As I was studying freedom this week in the Bible, I came across some verses that really stood out to me in a way that I hadn’t seen them before.
Most of us have heard these verses that are mentioned several times in the Bible, however, we’re going to read them out of Matthew 22:37-39-Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Okay, so you may be thinking, what does this have to do with freedom? Oh my goodness, so much!
Galatians 5:1 tells us to stand fast therefore in the freedom by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage…that means do not move from the freedom that Jesus has given you! Don’t go back to the bondage that had previously held you back from being all that God created you to be.
Ladies, there is a bondage that has held several of us back for so long and it’s time to step in the freedom that God has given you…once and for all! What is that bondage that has held us back…that has enslaved us. Well, let’s keep reading in Galatians and find out.
Still in Galatians 5, we’re going to skip down to verse 13. It says, “For you have been called to freedom.” Ladies! God doesn’t want you stuck in bondage. He doesn’t want you held back by anything. He has a plan and a purpose for your life and He wants to use you to make a huge difference for Him!
However, continuing in verse 13, it says not to use that freedom that Jesus has given us as an opportunity for the flesh…meaning, don’t use it for selfish reasons, but through love serve one another.
The way we treat others…the way we serve others…those should be done with love…that should be the outcome of the freedom God has given us…not using our freedom for selfish gain.
That word love is agape. This is the kind of love that God has for us and God has given us to love others with.
Romans 5:5- Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Agape love is not a feeling, but it’s something that we choose. It’s an action. This kind of love always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what they do or don’t do. This kind of love gives freely without asking for anything in return. It does not consider what we think the person’s worth is that we are coming in contact with. Again, it’s the same kind of love God has for you.
So true freedom means to serve others in love.
Then Galatians 5:14 goes on to say, “For the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
How do we serve others in love…it starts here. If we don’t love ourselves…and I’m not saying make yourself a shrine or an idol. Don’t put yourself in a position that says, “I’m better than you.” It doesn’t mean selfish love.
But how do we love ourselves with the kind of love God has for us?
Check out this week's episode to learn more!
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