Freedom

Galatians 5:13 NLT
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.

We are proud to live in the land of the free. This country was founded by settlers who came to be free from the bondage they were experiencing in their homeland. They came here to be able to worship God as they desired; as He was leading them.

Then as a nation we broke free from the country that claimed this land was theirs. We became the United States of America. Each July we celebrate that freedom. And on this Memorial Day we celebrate the men and women who have fought and are fighting for us to keep that freedom. But that is not the freedom this verse is all about.

We who have asked Jesus to be Lord of our life have been called to live in freedom because of what Jesus did for us when He was crucified on the cross. He died so we could be free. He died taking with Him all our sin--past, present, and future.

Jesus paid the price so we could be free of the guilt of sin. You see, we are human beings and as such continue to do wrong even though we want to only do right. We have an enemy that continues to tempt us to take the wrong path; to make the wrong choice.

We are no longer sinners. We were saved by grace. But we do sin as we live and learn along this transformation walk we are all on. As we become more Christ like the incidences of sin Holy Spirit has to convict us of lessens.

Our Lord stands in the gap between us and our Father God. Jesus forgives our sins as Holy Spirit convicts us and we confess them and the Father never sees them. No sin, no punishment.

However, this does not mean we have a license to sin. No, we are called to live a righteous life, but our human nature and  an enemy desirous of tripping us up make it impossible to not fall into sin as we live this life.

So we cannot do whatever we like. We are to follow the Holy Spirit's lead and live a Christ like life daily knowing that when we do make a wrong choice, Holy Spirit is there to correct us and Jesus is there to forgive us.

Each day is a series of choices. Lord, help us make them in line with your will and not our own.