It was for Freedom

This is starting out as an exciting exercise. The Word is once again alive to me. I went to bed last night anticipating what God would have for me today. He didn't disappoint.

Galatians chapters 4 and 5. WOW! What a lot of good stuff in there. Chapter 5:1, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." I was set free to be free. Talk about stating the obvious, talk about missing the obvious. God must shake His head in frustration and amazement at how often I miss the obvious.

Chapter 4:7,8 "Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods."

I was a slave and the one I was a slave to wasn't even a god. What kind of activity did this master have me engaged in? Chapter 5:19-21 "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputed, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkeness, carousing, and things like these,..." That makes for quite a resume. Do I really want to attach that to my resume as "Other Skills"? Somehow, I can't see that making for a very employable statement. The sad thing is, that's exactly what I do when I take up the "yoke of slavery" again. Christ set me free to be free, to walk in freedom, to abide in freedom. How it must grieve Him when He sees me subject myself to the "yoke of slavery" again and again. How it must grieve Him when He sees me do the deeds of that other master. Me, a free man - even more a son - wallowing in the disgrace and shame of slavery. 

BUT, I was set free! I am free! It's not a question of if or when, it's a condition I've been blessed with. No longer a slave, no longer bound by obligation to serve that evil master but free! So how do I "keep standing firm", how do I walk out this condition of freedom with which I have been blessed? Chapter 5:16,17 " ..., walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets it's desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh". Walk by the Spirit. I am "a son; and if a son, then an heir through God". What am I an heir too? What is my inheritance? I am an heir to His Spirit. "..., God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!", Chapter 4:6. The Spirit of God, resident in me must by virtue of His character reveal Himself. And what exactly is His character? What can I expect to be in evidence if the Spirit of God dwells in me? Chapter 5:22, 23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;". One fruit, not nine. One fruit, I don't get to pick and choose. While each aspect of this fruit would be a noble discipline to pursue, this is the fruit of the Spirit, not something I need to strive to achieve but rather the evidence of the Spirit in me. His personality, His fruit, will be in evidence if He is residing in me. What a promise! What an inheritance!