True Freedom in Christ
Paul, an apostle ... not from men nor through man, but by Jesus Christ ... or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ. (Gal. 1:1, 10b)
Gal. 1:1-10; 2:4; 5:11-4; Jn. 8:34-36; II Cor. 3:16; Eph. 4:4-9
What Is God Saying?
Paul discovered that Judaizers (a sect of Jewish Christians) had been gaining ground in Galatia, a region in modern-day Turkey. They insisted that the only way to become a Christian was through Judaism. Keeping Jewish Law was equal to the Gospel. Paul was angry and used strong language in this letter, ‘O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?’ (3:1). He spent much time proclaiming and explaining the simple Gospel and now they were confused by another gospel which is not the Gospel. Paul's great purpose in life was to see that Christianity would not shrivel into a tiny sect in a corner of the world. The Gospel must be for the world, the whole world that God so loved that He gave His Son.
To be Christians did not, and could not, ever carry the baggage of circumcision and legalism. As much as Christians owe to the great principles of Judaism, Christians are free from the binding rites and the laws of ancient Judaism. Guard your freedom, brethren, you have only one Savi0r, one Master, one Lord and Jesus Christ is His name. Be bound to Him and free from everything else.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Underscore the key verses of Galatians 5:1, 13, "‘For freedom, Christ has set us free,’ and ‘You were called to freedom, brethren.’ Paul (who makes much of freedom in this letter) opens by stating that he is a servant of Christ. Only they are free who are in bondage to Christ—free from having to please others or having to be good enough for God to like them; free from keeping all the fine points of religious laws.
Grace alone. Faith alone. That spells freedom. Paul knew what it meant to be free in Christ. He also knew how to be a slave of Christ.
"Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be. Let Your goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee."
Jesus said, ‘If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed,’ and, ‘Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.’ Whose captive are you? The choice is ours. Choose to please others, choose to have it all materially, choose to worship before the idol of hedonism, choose to climb to Heaven on a ladder of good works ... and find only captivity, or choose to have it all in Christ—choose to be His bondservant and be free, totally and forever.
Pray With Me
Lord, You have commissioned all Your disciples. You give all Christians strength to do what You know needs to be done. May I always remember that You are the One, the only One, whom I must please. I am to go to others for You and I am to come to You for others, but it is in loving obedience to You that I go or come, hurry or wait, work or rest.
Give me increasing independence from the opinion of others and an ever-growing desire to be found acceptable in Your sight. Let me be so occupied with the joy of Your presence and with the greatness of Your love that I have no room in my heart and no time on my hands to be concerned about the impression I make on others. If there are impressions, let those impressions convey this one message: I am a servant of Jesus Christ. I am not trying to please others. I try to serve others to please Jesus. Let my ears be so filled with the music of Heaven and the love-whispered commands of Your kingdom that I will not hear or need to hear, the comments of others, whether they are pleased or not
My commiss10n is to others but never through others. I would not look to others for commendation, but beyond others to You. If You are pleased, let all the world be disappointed. If You are not pleased, the acceptance, the smiling approval, and the praises of the whole world could not compensate for the heaviness I feel. In bondage to You, I am free from the world. Pleasing You, I am relieved of the need to try to please everybody else. For this freedom discovered and for this burden lifted, I thank You, my Lord and my Redeemer.
My prayer, O God is in the name of Your Son, with Whom You are well-pleased and to Whom, alone, by Your grace, I would be well-pleasing. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Prayer keeps the fountain of true life flowing freely. It is being still in the Presence of Jesus and listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It delivers from the hampering pressures of trying to please others. It brings us back on the beam; not pleasing others for the sake of popularity, but serving others for the sake of Jesus Christ.
