It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

 

Many of the apostle Paul’s letters to the early churches describe difficulties that the church was struggling with.

 

Yesterday I wrote about the problems the church in Corinth was having, and in today’s verse, Paul rebukes the Galatians for getting caught up in rules and regulations. They were so concerned with following the letter of the law that they became legalist and judgmental to the extent that this overtook their desire to live by and share in the love of Jesus.

 

Paul wrote this letter to say it was not the way life in the church was supposed to be.

 

Living a life of obligation and requirements and trying to live up to the expectations of others is a heavy burden to bear—even if those requirements and expectations have good intentions. The joy of resurrection life in Christ frees us to live with love for God and our neighbours without the burden of following a complicated set of rules.

 

Instead, with the Word of God and the Spirit of Christ guiding us, we aim to live by grace and love in Jesus’ name, following his example.

 

In the remaining days of this month, we’ll reflect on what it looks like to live in the freedom of Jesus Christ. In this freedom we are released from the effects of sin and death so that we can live as God intends us to: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”

 

Prayer: Lord, your mercy has set us free. What a gift! May we accept the gift of freedom you offer us in Christ, and may we freely offer it to others as well. Amen