Weekly Worship 7/26/20

Call to Worship: Devotional (By Pastor Dan Loch)

1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1 (NASB)

This is such a powerful and deep verse. In under 25 words Paul teaches us one of the purposes of our salvation (freedom), how we were freed (Christ set us free), what we should do with that freedom (stand firm), the danger of not standing firm, and the nature of that danger. The Galatians faced this danger in two ways. First, the simplicity of the law called for them to surrender their freedom in exchange for a check list. Second, the flesh enticed them to lose their freedom in the pursuit of fading pleasures. Both of these dangers promised satisfaction and if we are honest we know there are many times that we look to these dangers for satisfaction. Yet as we have experienced, legalism and the flesh both lead us back to slavery and death.

But Christ (and what a beautiful two words) has set us free. Now, because of what He has done, we can live as God designed us to live. This Spiritual living, this new freedom, is not limited to participating in religious rituals or checking off a list of do’s and do-not’s. Instead, where we once glorified ourselves and tried to satisfy our own desires we are now free to glorify God in ALL that we do.

“In ALL that we do” may sound like a lot, but the better we understand the unfathomable value of Christ’s sacrifice the more we will realize that our “all” is a small price to pay for the freedom that He freely gives to all who believe. May we use our freedom to run towards Christ, to live in the Spirit, and forsake the yoke of slavery.