Galatians 5:1 (NASB) “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
Do you ever keep a mental score while riding with your friends? I got this trick; he’s got that one; she can do this; I won’t even hit that. I think it’s pretty common. But then you ride with a small kid or someone just learning and see them link their first turns. That is a nice simple reminder of how awesome the mountains are and how lucky we are to be in them.
Remember that the whole reason for Jesus’ death and resurrection was for Freedom, not to lay out a bunch of rules to follow.
This verse comes from a letter that this guy, Paul, wrote to some people in a place called Galatia. There was a bit of a debate (or forgetfulness) of what the story of Jesus’ death meant. Many thought that there was still so much weight on how they performed, what they did, and how they showed God that they were followers. They were concerned with how they gained His approval. This verse is a reminder note that says, “Hey remember: this whole death on a cross thing was to set you FREE, not to make you feel like you gotta keep score to see if you are following the laws perfectly. Don’t fall into that OLD trap. You are free. This is all for freedom!”
Challenge
Do you ever need a reminder to seek the freedom that is promised vs looking to a set of rules to justify yourself?
What are ways that you can be like the author, Paul, and remind others that this life is about freedom? How can you speak into your friends’ lives with great reminders of freedom?
This thought was quite revolutionary at the time, and quite possibly controversial. Where do you see this reminder that Jesus is about freedom?
By Shawn Gruenhagen | Denver, Colorado