I've been caught off guard. I've been so convinced that choices/options are the way to live. To have them, means I have freedom. Wrong - commitment is where freedom lives and breathes and gives life. Galatians 5 talks about the freedom we have through Christ. We are supposed to have that freedom. How many of us actually live in it? Where we are free to love without the inhibitions of a self-seeking lifestyle. The words from that chapter say that it is absolutely impossible to live a freedom filled life if selfish interest is involved. I can't imagine there are many who have figured that out - only by the grace of God could live in a world where these characteristics of a selfish life are not ruling: (These are words from Eugene Peterson's version of the Bible, "The Message" starting at 5:19) - "repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community." Paul lays it on the churches in Galatia, much like i've felt like i've had it laid on me. My time has been pulled so many directions that I've failed to understand what freedom is. My relationships haven't grown as they should because love has not been the dominating characteristic - how could it be? I haven't lived in the freedom of Christ. I've allowed my self-seeking interests to blind me from what God has so willingly given me - life to the full. A portion of Heaven now.
Freedom is displayed, as Paul says, in love. The TNIV says it this way 5:13, 14 - "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Commitment to one another gives freedom! Commitment to a body, one body of Christ, gives freedom. Commitment to one person - gives freedom! This is what happens when we choose to live in freedom: 5:22-23 (the Message) "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard-things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." AMAZING!!
Oh how I long to live in this freedom.
Of course, I can't but help think of the movie Braveheart, when William Wallace is literally at his last breath, his only cry is for "FREEDOM!" He fought for it. He died for it. Freedom in Christ is worth fighting/dying for.
