For you were called to freedom brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. – Galatians 5:13 (NASB)
This scripture helped me to see the battle we face as believers in Christ. A battle between the entanglement of our flesh and the Spirit of God. Once we receive Christ, we have His Spirit, yet we still have ourselves-our flesh, the deeds which are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentions, faction, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like this…” vs 19.
The Spirit we have received will empower us to overcome the deeds of the flesh. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…vs 22.
I had an experience in a relationship where this person was unable to love because they were entangled in their own sin and even though they claimed to know Christ they did not allow His power to free them from what was holding them back to love in the freedom they were called. I can say I too have been that way, where the pain of disputes, frustrations, and the like caused me to withhold love from those God had placed in my life. I was too broken to heed the call to freely love the way God intended. It’s as if the Spirit is closed behind a door with love on the other side. If we would confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive, and freedom opens that door. (1 John 1:9)
Knowing and accepting there is an ongoing battle between the flesh and Spirit while on earth helps me see that I am getting out of step with His Spirit. I can ask God to strengthen me, forgive my repentant heart, and remember He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6) With that promise, we can be thankful God has called us to freedom from our nature to walk in His.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Spirit who helps us see our need to rely upon You to overcome the flesh in order to love and serve freely. Thank You that You have called us to imitate You and Your nature so that others will be loved and served according to Your will.
This devotion by author, Terrie Miles, is exclusively and solely shared with permission to New Beginnings Church. Any unauthorized printed reproduction, sharing or use of this material is prohibited.
