‘It is absolutely clear that God has called you to
a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do
whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to
serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows’. Galatians 5:13 MSG
Most countries
were previously governed by colonial masters before eventually gaining their
freedom on a certain day. These days are usually commemorated annually as
public holidays and sometimes are used as a time to reflect changes and
progress made so far. America celebrates her independence from the British Government on the 4th of July while Nigeria celebrates hers also on the 1st
of October yearly. Although these colonial masters have left, some of their
culture and customs are adapted in several areas while in other areas there is
a total deviation from what was practised by the colonial masters. Everyone
loves freedom and even sometimes as Christians we encounter problems dealing
with the true extent of our freedom.
Paul told
the Galatians that our former lives without Christ can be likened to being
under the bondage of slavery to a slave master, Sin. When we were colonized by
sin, we did not have any option but to do as it bid us to, but now that we have
been set free by Christ we should not use this freedom to do as we please
.Rather our new found freedom should serve as a platform to serve our new
master, Christ as we serve one another in love. It means that whatsoever we do,
there should consideration for our fellow brethren.
True freedom
means being able to choose. We are able to say truly that “although I have
the liberty to do this, I choose not to do it”. Any freedom that does not allow
one exhibit the power of choice is not genuine (1 Corinthians 8:8-13). A person
who has genuinely broken free from alcoholism can look at another glass and
walk away.
It s also
interesting to note that it is for freedom that Christ set us free (Galatians
5:1). This freedom comes from our knowledge of the truth of the Word (John
8:32).There is no need inventing new laws that further burden the people of God
and do not lead to righteousness(Colossians 2:21-23). Most times these additional
laws only serve as boasting points from which we sometimes condemn others.
As we
celebrate this Independence Day, let us use it as a time to reflect on how true
our own freedom is and this can be measured by how much we are serving one
another.
Happy Independence
Day.
Grace Tom-Lawyer
Grace Tom-Lawyer
