You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. – (Galatians 5:13, NIV)
My brothers and sisters, God chose you to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful selves. Instead, serve each other with love. – (Galatians 5:13, ERV)
Brothers and sisters, God has called you to freedom! Hear the call, and do not spoil the gift by using your liberty to engage in what your flesh desires; instead, use it to serve each other as Jesus taught through love. – (Galatians 5:13, VOICE)
Because God gives us a free will, we have the freedom to choose the ways in which we go. However, if we are following Him, we are called to love. If we are loving in all that we do, we deny our fleshly desires and walk in His way and do His will. Jesus came, not to be served, but to serve others. He is our example and ought to be the model of how to walk in love and grace with humility. The love Christ modeled was such that He loved the broken, the hurting, and the rejected. He touched the “untouchable” and healed those who felt hopeless. Our charge is to choose to love like Him. May we ever seek the Lord to show us how to serve each other in love and to care well for those around us, rather than to be self-centered and focus on only what we want.
It is for freedom,
that we’ve been set free;
to choose how to live,
love abundantly.
As we seek follow,
and love like the Lord;
we learn how to live,
as the Lord affords.
He gives us freely,
all that we will need;
to love as He loves,
His grace set us free.
Free from the shackles,
of our selfishness;
covered by His grace,
for true righteousness.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You have given us a free will. Thank You that our freedom is the ability to choose whether or not we follow after You. Thank You that You have shown us what it is to deny our fleshly desires and choose to love well. Forgive us for the times that we have chosen selfishness and have neglected to love. Show us how to love like You in all things and at all times. Empower us to show Your goodness and grace to all whom we encounter. May many enter into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we set aside our own selfish desires and seek to follow after You in love for all. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28
Revelations In Writing 