In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul encourages the church at Galatia to remember that God had set them free to walk in freedom:
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (
Galatians 5:1). The importance of freedom in our lives cannot be over-emphasized. It's a principle created by God and so important to Him that we see it's presence at the very beginning of humanity in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were not required anything except to stay stay away from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and even that they were free to disobey if they so chose and we all know how that one worked out (
Genesis 2-3). Despite the fact that it was God's desire for us to be protected from that tree and all the havoc it has wreaked on humankind over the years, freedom is so valuable to Him that He still gave us the opportunity to choose, by placing it in the Garden. He knew that true love and commitment from His children would only come when we had the freedom to choose to love, obey and serve Him.
Freedom is a litmus test for our heart's desires. The only way we know that love for anyone or any thing is valid is in the place of being free to choose. When there is total liberty to do otherwise and we still choose someone or something, it's in that place that love is affirmed. A slave may do what He's told, but a faithful son or daughter does things to honor their mother and father. When our hearts are moved to do those things that honor God and are dear to His heart regardless of regulations, this is true commitment, true worship and true love. Our heavenly father desires great things for us, but He will never take pleasure in us accomplishing or attaining them so long as it's not in true freedom - first from sin, and then from being led by obligations and regulations. He wants us to choose the life and blessing He has for us, out of a place of pure relationship.
So today, remember, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free so let's walk in it for His glory.
