Freedom With Christ

Freedom With Christ

by Jym Wells
03/19/2015

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) 5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

I think this is a good place to start. I feel that we sometimes get wrapped up in rituals and start honoring and/or trusting in or worshiping the CREATION not CREATOR. We start trying to work our way to Heaven. We get over run with steps to follow to be a CHRISTIAN. So thus came this devotional. Jesus Christ did not DIE on the cross so that we would be burdened down with rituals. Yes I do believe there are things to do however I do not believe they are things to do to get to Heaven I believe they are things to do to make us stronger in our walk, Paul says in Galatians 5:1 that we should not be burdened again by a yoke of slavery… Believe it or not we have been SET FREE.

Yes there are some things we should do and I do believe that if we follow certain guides it will make our lives easier. We sometimes wish to wrestle with things that we have been delivered from just because we do not or do not wish to follow guidelines. For instance it is 35 degrees outside, there is snow falling, there is ice on the ground under the snow. Question, the store is only a block down the street and you need some milk and bread… which steps should you follow:

1. Slip on a tank top, a pair of shorts, some flip-flops and walk down to the store.
2. Get properly dressed in a good warm coat, with a shirt or blouse probably some warm pants and some winter weather boots.
I do hope you picked step 2. Well being a CHRISTIAN is the same thing and sometimes we wish to look back to our old ways and follow them knowing better just not doing it so with that in mind let us look at Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) This is the fruit of the Spirit and these are things we, as CHRISTIANS, should be doing all the time. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

I do believe that Paul is right when he said Against such things there is no law. So then Galatians 5:24-26 (NIV) 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Again that old man is dead and gone we are BORN AGAIN and we are new we belong to Christ we should not do WHAT? Verse 26 do not fall into that trap of the enemy.

So as we read in acts of the flesh [or the dead man you know the one that died on the cross with Jesus] so here they are, they are pretty easy to see. If we learn them then we will know what to look out for and not fall into the trap of the enemy. Galatians 5: 19-21 (NIV) 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
I do hope and pray that this will help keep us on the road and out of the ditch [sin]. Then we will not have to call the tow truck [Jesus] to get us back up on the road again. Let us practice becoming more like Jesus, a CHRISTIAN and less like the WORLD and understand the Freedom With Christ… God Bless

Memory Verse for March 19, 2015

Galatians 5:26 (NIV) Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

May God be with you and watch over you. And America it is time for us to BLESS GOD again…

1 Corinthians 9:19 [NKJV] For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;