Freedom is something that we all yearn for. Freedom from rules, from burdens, from responsibilities that weigh us down, from difficult relationships – you name it, we want to be free of it. And that’s not, by any means, unusual. We want to be set free from that stuff so we get on and enjoy life.

For someone who’s never had enough to make ends meet … man, what a release it would be finally to have enough. For someone who’s been in a difficult marriage for years … what a release it would be to be able to move on.

And indeed, God has chosen us to be free – but the sort of freedom He has for us may not be the sort that we were thinking of.

Galatians 5:13 My brothers and sisters, God chose you to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful selves. Instead, serve each other with love.

The freedom God’s talking about here is freedom from evil desires; freedom from sin; freedom from the consequences of all our wrongdoing. And, truth be told, our yearning for all those other freedoms we chatted about earlier can lead us into doing the wrong thing – into dishonesty, into leaving that difficult marriage partner, into … well, into lots of stuff. When you put your trust in Jesus, you’re set free from the burdens of your own sin. That’s real freedom, the sort that sets you free in the midst of, in despite of, all the difficulties that press in on you. So …

… don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful selves. Instead, serve each other with love.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.