Galatians 5:1--"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
As I read Galatians chapter five this week verse one really seemed to stand out to me. This verse has caused me to think and meditate on who I am in Christ. It has produced in my mind some thought provoking questions. Such questions as: Am I walking in freedom or bondage? Have I realized just how much Christ gave up for my freedom? Am I a captive, a prisoner unaware?
These questions have caused me to study and dissect Galatians 5:1. I have always thought that the only people that were captives were the spiritually lost. I have found out through this verse that as a Christian I too can live in bondage with a yoke of slavery strangling my neck. I see this in the the last part of this verse when he uses the word, "again".
Galatians 5:1b--"Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
I am held captive by anything that hinders me from the abundant and effective spirit-filled life God has planned for my life. Based on this verse this liberty is directed not to the lost world but rather to the Church. To the genuine born again believers. When Christ died on the cross and paid the penalty for our sins He purchased our freedom from every yoke and replaced it with one, Christ Himself.
Matthew 11: [28-30]--" "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Satan would love nothing more than for us to live in captivity, because when we are in captivity we are worthless to the cause of Christ. A lot of the time that we are in bondage it is self-inflicted. I have found that Satan attacks me mostly through the first person singular. In my mind. I do not need to believe the lies he tries to put into my mind. I only need to believe the truth of God's word. Satan wants to keep us in bondage because it distract us and keeps from reading God's word. He doesn't want us to read the word because he knows it is the key to unlocking the prison gates that hold us captive.
Nothing! Not even Satan himself can hold us captive without our permission. We must choose through the freedom we have in Christ to Live in Freedom. Christ did not set us free so that we could live the rest of our lives in bondage. We were captives but now we have been set free. We must live our lives in light of this truth. When we are walking with Christ we are walking in the path of freedom.
As we walk in freedom perhaps these words will echo in our hearts......."How would I have known that I was lost had You not searched and found me? How would I have known that I was blind had You not made me see? How would I have known my bleeding 'Til You bound Your love around me? How would I have groaned my slavery until You set me free?" --Beth Moore
Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison
