Free to Choose

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13

We have been called to live in freedom. I’m not sure you and I can fully grasp the concept of living in freedom, since most of us have not physically lived in captivity. But all of us once lived in the captivity of sin. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans that we become slaves to whatever we choose to obey, whether sin or righteousness (Romans 6). Christ has set us free from the captivity of sin, but the interesting thing about freedom is that it comes with a little thing called choice.

Even though you are no longer serving sin unknowingly, you can still choose it as your master. You can choose to satisfy your sinful nature. Paul says, “Don’t use your freedom  that way.” Serving the sinful nature will keep you bound up in misery and won’t benefit the people around you. “Instead,” Paul says, “Use your freedom to serve one another in love.” This is a beautiful, wise, rewarding and God-honoring choice.