Galatians 5:13 – 15 “For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out, or you will be consumed by each other.”
Today there are many protesting and demanding various freedoms. The question is “freedom from what?” or “freedom to do what?” Only small children assume that they can always get their way, no matter what the adults think. Becoming an adult includes learning that many freedoms have limitations. I might wish the freedom to park my car in the middle of the highway, but if I do, others will not be able to use the highway properly. I am likely to wind up with a crumpled vehicle and several lawsuits!
Freedom of speech is a critically important freedom; yet, there are those who wish to silence anyone who does not agree with them. Destroying monuments because they were erected by someone from a different time with whose beliefs you do not agree is senseless. Far better to leave those monuments and to point them out as examples of why change had to come. In rural America, there is a saying, “After all, everybody is good for something, even if they just serve as a bad example.”
John Donne observed so many years ago, “no man is an island.” Even if we are isolated due to COVID – 19, we still wish to express our feelings and opinions. Destroying books and movies because we do not like the viewpoints expressed accomplishes nothing and leaves us with a diminished world view.
When God created the human race, He gave us free will. We are free to choose good or evil, to choose darkness or light. We can choose to love or to hate. We can choose to accept God or to reject Him, and God will honor those choices. But in choosing to reject God, we are choosing to reject all that will make our lives good and meaningful and positive. The speed of darkness is the speed of light. Either the light is going to come into our lives and become brighter and brighter, or darkness will enter and eventually engulf us.
How can we best exercise our freedom? Galatians 5 has the answer: serve one another in love. The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
In life, what goes around, comes around. The measure you give out is the measure you receive. If you act violently, others will oppose you violently. If you are selfish, do not expect that others will be gracious and generous to you. What goes around, comes around.
Yes, we all have the freedom to choose the paths we will follow. But with those choices come consequences. There is no choice that does not carry with it some result. If we choose to be people of peace, then others may be encouraged to respond in peace. If we act in love, we encourage others to do the same. But make no mistake! If you insist on violence and destruction, others will respond in the same spirit. And Galatians 5:15 must serve as a warning: “But if you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out, or you will be consumed by each other.”
PRAYER: Father God, today we thank you for the freedom to choose! Please help us to make wise choices so that our lives will be fruitful. Help us to serve others in love, even when they are attacking us and insulting us. And help us to be people of peace, so that others around us will catch the vision and become people of peace as well. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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