Tight Circles

Tight Circles

Bible: Galatians 5:1-14

Reading

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free (V.1).

A classmate gave my family a collie dog that had become too old to breed puppies. We soon learned this beautiful dog had, sadly, spent much of her life inside a small pen. She would only walk in tight circles. She couldn’t fetch or run in a straight line. And even with a large garden to explore, she thought she was fenced in. The first Christians, many who were Jews, were used to being fenced in by the Old Testament law. Though the law was good and had been given to help them understand sin and lead them to Jesus (GALATIANS 3:19-25), it was time to live out their new faith based in God’s love and the freedom of Jesus. They hesitated. After all this time, were they really free? We may have the same problem. Perhaps we know Christians and churches with strict rules that fence us in. Or we have done stupid things in the past and now want to be penned in to keep us safe from messing up again. Either way, it’s time to take hold of our freedom in Jesus (GALATIANS 5:1). Jesus has freed us to enjoy life with Him as our number one (JOHN 14:21) and to be able to “serve one another humbly in love” (GALATIANS 5:13). “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (JOHN 8:36). Following Jesus isn’t about rules, but knowing we are free from sin, fully forgiven and able to live in real love and peace.

GOD IS ALWAYS WORKING.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries