Liberty Expressed in Love, Not License
George Fessler
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"My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use
your
freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve
each other
with love" (Galatians 5:13, NCV).
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In this powerful passage for reflection, Paul brings what could be
considered three essential elements of faith into perspective: liberty,
love, and license. He wants us to know that we have been called
to liberty
in Christ. Yet when liberty is taken to extremes beyond all limits,
it can
quickly deteriorate into license -- to an "excuse to do what pleases"
our
sinful selves. The only corrective is to place love at the pivotal
point of
our lives. True liberty expresses itself not in license to anything
I want
(enslavement again!), but in love -- a servant love that looks to
the needs
of others. It sounds again as if we're being called to be like our
Lord,
doesn't it?
Prayer response: Father, I yearn for liberty in my heart and life.
And I
thank you that in Christ I have been truly liberated. Keep me from
becoming
bound again by anything that even lends itself toward license of
attitude
and action in my life. Let me be liberated by your love in order
to love
others as you have loved me. Give me a servant's heart, willing
to humble
myself and help those who cross my path, even if others never see
what I do.
I know that you see and that's enough. I bow before you and open
myself to
your grace this day. In Jesus' name. Amen.
hbdevotion@news.ag.org
