A message for the week starting on Sunday 26 June 2022
Lectionary Week: Third Sunday after Pentecost
Prescribed Texts: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Psalms 77:1-2,11-20, Galatians 5:1, 13-25, Luke 9:51-62
Freedom in Christ
Focus Text: Galatians 5: 1, 13-25
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.
Galatians 5 verse 1teaches us about freedom. In fact, Apostle Paul is reminding us that We are set free from sin by Jesus Christ`s perfect life that God accepted as a substitute for our sin-stained lives. We are completely freed from the guilt and punishment of our sins as we look to Jesus and see Him make the payment for every sin. God accepted that payment and declared us as “not guilty.”
We therefore need not to be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. However, being freed from sin doesn’t mean we can do as we please. Freedom is misinterpreted in today`s life and for that reason we have lost respect and humility. What does freedom mean in your life, how does freedom impact your spiritual life?
Stand firm, do not move away from this grace of freedom. Do not allow yourself to be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. How many times did you want to move away from grace simply because things are not going your way? You are waiting for your breakthrough, but nothing happens? Do you know that once you move away from the glory of God, you are literally enslaving yourself again?
How many times have we used freedom in a way that harms others and left alone to disrupt the peace within? Do you know that once you go back to your old life, you will be grieving the Holy Spirit?
To think about: Dear God, as a free being through the life of your son Jesus Christ, help me to stand firm and not to use the freedom in a way that will grieve the Holy Spirit. Teach me to better understand the Biblical freedom to be able to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit and free from slavery.
Written by: Mpho Lekgetho, trained Churches Channels of Hope (CCoH) facilitator