Paul the apostle spent the
first four chapters of the book of Galatians telling the church
members the difference between the law of God and the grace of God.
Now that those who read these words know there is a difference, and
in chapter five and verse one Paul begins to share how we are to live
once we know this. He wrote:
Stand fast therefore in
the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage.
Paul
gives the Galatian church members two directives in this verse. First
he said, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ
has made us free,...” The idea is that one must “persist,
persevere, and make a firm stand” in Christ's liberty. As the old
hymn proclaims, “Jesus Paid It All. All to Him I owe.” There is
no more payment to be made. No amount of good works, good deeds,
offerings, service, or other means of fleshly work needs to be
accomplished. Jesus provided liberty, and because He did, we are set
free. We must stand firm in the knowledge and life of this wonderful
gift.
Paul
adds secondly, “and be not entangled again with the yoke of
bondage.” There is no need to return to the former things, for
they are done away. It would be a disadvantage to us once we are set
free to return to a restrictive yoke. The law of God was like a yoke
around the neck of an animal. It was burdensome, heavy, grievous and
difficult, and to return to attempting to follow it for salvation
would not be wise. Jesus freed us from the “yoke of bondage”
called the law, and we have no need to return to its bindings.
As we
read these words, perhaps we should take inventory of our lives and
determine whether we have returned in any manner to restrictive rules
or traditions which bind us rather than allow us to stand fast in
Christ's liberty. Are there areas where self-imposed rules govern so
strongly that if they were violated in any manner we would think
ourselves “unsaved?” As we ponder these things, let us remember
once again the sacrifice of Jesus Christ has been made. It is
finished, and now our belief in His completed work is all that is
necessary for us to be free. Let us be free indeed.
Next time we will discover what Paul says profits us nothing, so read
ahead, and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally
at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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