September 17, 2025 | Be God's Family
Don't Abuse Your Freedom
Scripture: Galatians 5:13-15(NIV)
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Devotional
Freedom. America was built on the idea of freedom for its citizens. We’re The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. But as much as we would like to believe we have total freedom; we have freedom....with limits. We value individual liberties but also respect the rights of others and live within boundaries. The First Amendment outlines five freedoms – Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly and Petition. Yes, we have free speech but not to the extent that speech incites violence or defames another. Yes, the press can publish information without government interference but not if it’s deemed obscene or violates national security. American freedom strikes a balance between the freedom of its citizens and the common good of the people.
Paul is saying something similar when he says, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But......” (Gal. 5:13) Believers are free......but not free to do harm to others or themselves. There were some in the community who were claiming that since they were now free from the law, they were able to do whatever they wanted. They would participate in sinful behavior just to confess the next day. Paul refutes this totally. Freedom isn’t an excuse to step outside the boundaries. I like the way verse 13 is translated in The Message - “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.” Freedom in Christ is not permission to sin but an obligation to serve each other in love. Like American freedom, the Christian life strikes a balance between freedom from the law and freedom from sin.
Paul then returns to that common theme – love. Paul encourages the Galatians to love one another by repeating Jesus’ words. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:38) Jesus’ call to love one another is non-negotiable. Beyond the call to love God above all others, love of others is the second most important commandment. If the freedom you find in following Christ is not based in love, it’s no freedom at all. And if these Galatians somehow felt they were still committed to following the law, Paul ensures them that “the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command.” (vs. 14)
Rabbi Hillel was a Jewish religious leader who died in 10 CE so lived at the time of Christ. He expressed the idea like this: “That which is hateful to you, do not do unto your fellow (man). That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn.” So, love one another – the rest is just explanation.
Poem
When I Serve You
Psalm 100
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Psalm 100:2
When I serve you, I serve the LORD
When serving sister, brother
I lift up my heart to the LORD
By lifting up another
When I love you, I love the LORD
When offering a cup
Providing shelter, food or care
Is when I lift God up
