Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
—Galatians 5:1 (KJV)
We have been set free! Christ Jesus has delivered us from law, sin, and death through God's grace and our faith in him (Romans 8:1-4). We have been set free from trying to be justified by our adherence to the law. We now serve God out of our thankfulness for his grace, empowered by the Holy Spirit to share in the salvation that Jesus has poured out upon us (Titus 3:3-7). So how will we use this freedom? We must now allow ourselves to be "burdened again by a yoke of slavery" to sin or law-keeping! Instead, we live by the power of the Holy Spirit so we can be transformed to become more and more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-25) as we fulfill the "righteous requirement of the law" as we "do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:4).
God of freedom and grace, please empower me with the Holy Spirit so I may fully understand and live in holiness as I live into the freedom you have given me. Please use me to share your grace and blessings with my friends and family through the power of the Spirit. May I never take for granted the gift of my freedom won at such a great cost. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
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—Galatians 5:1 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
We have been set free! Christ Jesus has delivered us from law, sin, and death through God's grace and our faith in him (Romans 8:1-4). We have been set free from trying to be justified by our adherence to the law. We now serve God out of our thankfulness for his grace, empowered by the Holy Spirit to share in the salvation that Jesus has poured out upon us (Titus 3:3-7). So how will we use this freedom? We must now allow ourselves to be "burdened again by a yoke of slavery" to sin or law-keeping! Instead, we live by the power of the Holy Spirit so we can be transformed to become more and more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-25) as we fulfill the "righteous requirement of the law" as we "do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:4).
My Prayer...
God of freedom and grace, please empower me with the Holy Spirit so I may fully understand and live in holiness as I live into the freedom you have given me. Please use me to share your grace and blessings with my friends and family through the power of the Spirit. May I never take for granted the gift of my freedom won at such a great cost. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Continue reading...
