Text:Galatians 4:28-5:1
Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. But just as at that time the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman." So then, friend, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman. For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
The freedom we have in Christ is not some freedom to do as we please and to be completely independent from others. It is not the freedom to go out and "find yourself" and go wherever that takes us. It is the freedom to be "in Christ." To be claimed by our God as sons and daughters of God - and count on that status. We do not need to be enslaved or follow or abide in the ways of our world in which we must earn a status. We begin this day as God's beloved - trust therefore that there is no status of greater worth and then...be free to be this child. We do not act because we are like slaves living within a very limited space and experience for we think that is what will keep us safe and in good condition. We act in response to a complete and eternal love for us...a love that would adopt us....and call us beloved. Even though there is a growing movement toward faith communities that are attempting to make life secure by following a bunch of rules and directions so as to bring some control into our world, the first word among us is freedom - in Christ. From freedom, in freedom, we experience the fullness of God's reign and we are invited to be a part of that fullness.
Connection: We are in a day when people are looking for ways to control life around us. If you are like me, I am very tempted to try to control life by putting down limits and guidelines before I even think about loving others. It's almost as though I want everyone to fit within my world of acceptability then I will love. Well...that is the way of the law. If....then... When love rules us...when forgiveness is our way...when we claim Jesus to be the Lord of life - love is the order of the day...all other rules fit into its design. Not it is not an easier way...it is a very different way.
Loving God, you set us free to roam and walk and play and live within your gracious reign. It is so easy for us to turn away and walk in the ways of the life around us and forget that by your loving embrace we are held up and supported in this day. Let your love for us be our strength to live freely in your domain. AMEN
Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. But just as at that time the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman." So then, friend, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman. For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
The freedom we have in Christ is not some freedom to do as we please and to be completely independent from others. It is not the freedom to go out and "find yourself" and go wherever that takes us. It is the freedom to be "in Christ." To be claimed by our God as sons and daughters of God - and count on that status. We do not need to be enslaved or follow or abide in the ways of our world in which we must earn a status. We begin this day as God's beloved - trust therefore that there is no status of greater worth and then...be free to be this child. We do not act because we are like slaves living within a very limited space and experience for we think that is what will keep us safe and in good condition. We act in response to a complete and eternal love for us...a love that would adopt us....and call us beloved. Even though there is a growing movement toward faith communities that are attempting to make life secure by following a bunch of rules and directions so as to bring some control into our world, the first word among us is freedom - in Christ. From freedom, in freedom, we experience the fullness of God's reign and we are invited to be a part of that fullness.
Connection: We are in a day when people are looking for ways to control life around us. If you are like me, I am very tempted to try to control life by putting down limits and guidelines before I even think about loving others. It's almost as though I want everyone to fit within my world of acceptability then I will love. Well...that is the way of the law. If....then... When love rules us...when forgiveness is our way...when we claim Jesus to be the Lord of life - love is the order of the day...all other rules fit into its design. Not it is not an easier way...it is a very different way.
Loving God, you set us free to roam and walk and play and live within your gracious reign. It is so easy for us to turn away and walk in the ways of the life around us and forget that by your loving embrace we are held up and supported in this day. Let your love for us be our strength to live freely in your domain. AMEN
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