Galatians 5:13 For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another.
We have been called to the freedom that Christ purchased for us on the cross—freedom from sin! However, this freedom does not allow us to give any opportunity to walk in sin. If we do happen to stumble and fall in our walk, God is there to pick us up and wash us clean by forgiving us. But that’s not the same as willfully engaging in an activity you know is not right in God’s eyes, just because there’s a cushion of God’s forgiveness to fall back onto. This mindset shows a heart that is not really changed or even willing to be changed. It shows a heart still desiring the things of the flesh.
When God comes into our lives and begins to change us, the things of the flesh no longer appeal—they no longer hold the same desires they used to, and we don’t want to go back to them. But if we do out of weakness to an addicting behavior, God is always there with love to pick us up and strengthen us in that weakness so that we will overcome it—then we can continue to walk in His freedom with love and devotion to Him. But if we go back to the desires of the flesh only because we want to dabble in sinful behavior, that is like a slap in God’s face and a lack of true appreciation for all Christ accomplished on the cross for us. We simply cannot gratify the flesh, and then afterwards confess it to God so that we can be forgiven and on good terms with Him again. God’s freedom does not work that way!
We are called to live and walk in the freedom that Christ sacrificed His life for and serve others through His love—seeking out the best for another and helping them walk in God’s freedom as well. We all need help along the way to keep walking in His freedom and overcoming the obstacles we all face from time to time.
Don’t ever have the mindset that the freedom you are called to gives you the opportunity to indulge the flesh. God’s freedom never allows for that! We are to die to the flesh, not walk in it! God’s freedom is within the boundaries of His Word. We are never to go outside of those boundaries. And this does not place limitations on us either. Living aligned to God’s Word never restricts us, but it liberates us—as God’s Word says: You will know the truth and the truth will set you FREE! John 8:32 Walking in the flesh brings bondage. This is why we must all live in God’s freedom completely and not dabble in the sinful nature, gratifying temporal desires or pleasures—it simply doesn’t allow that liberty!
