How Are You Using Your Freedom?

Text:

Galatians 5:13 (NLT) 

13  For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 

Observation:

Are you using your God given freedom in Christ to serve one another in love?

Yesterday I heard a very soul penetrating sermon by my pastor that had these three points.

1. Look
2. Lift
3. Love

How can you love like this? God would not ask you to do it if He did not provide the means.

Galatians 5:17-18 (NLT) 

17  The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 

18  But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. 

Are you living daily by the power of the Holy Spirit of God who lives in you? Does the Holy Spirit of God, who is love, live in you?

Romans 5:5 (NLT) 

5  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 

Prayer:

Father God, we have so much to be grateful and thankful for as we celebrate the freedom we have in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:9 (NLT) 

9  But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 

Father, You have provided the means for us to love others. Father, help us to appropriate the power of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives to love others. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/