Freedom
Someone will say, ‘I am allowed to do anything.’ Yes; but not everything is good for you. I could say that I am allowed to do anything, but I am not going to let anything make me its slave. (verse 12)
It’s a bit like the man who overcomes his alcohol addiction only to fall prey to drugs. What’s the sense in exchanging one form of dependence for another?
Some of the early Christians were just as silly. After accepting the good news that Christ had died for their sins, they experienced a tremendous sense of freedom. They weren’t under the condemnation of God’s law any more. However, their next move was to behave as though they could do anything they wanted to. After all, weren’t they forgiven? Paul had to point out to them that they were giving up their new – found freedom for another form of slavery.
God’s word assures us of God’s forgiveness. We shouldn’t be so silly, however, as to see that as a licence to do anything we like. If we really appreciated our new freedom, we wouldn’t want to be ungrateful to God, who forgave us, by plunging ourselves into slavery again.
Dear Lord, thank you for the freedom you give me through the forgiveness of sins. Protect me from the temptation of taking for granted the sacrifice you made for me. Amen.
by contributor, in ‘Direction for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2006)
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