Entangled Again

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Galatians 5:1

Beloved, as we start this day, Paul is urging the Galatians, and us, to stand fast in the liberty that we have in Christ Jesus. We have so much liberty in our daily walk. The thing is, Christians don't realize it much. We are like the Galatians. We become set free in Christ Jesus when we are born again, then because of the traditions of man, we place ourselves back under the yoke of bondage that is called legalism. Perhaps it is because we don't realize the liberty that is in Christ. Perhaps it is because your family has gone to this particular church all of your life. Whatever the reason, Jesus does not want us to put ourselves back under the bondage of trying to keep all the rules. You know the ones. They say that a Christian is "supposed" to behavior. We are to live according to the Bible, not according to the church traditions. It was church traditions that crucified Christ, not the liberty that is found in Him.

Stand fast means to stand and not move, or not be moved. So, we are to not be moved from the liberty that is in Christ. Beloved, you and I are free from the bondage of trying to keep the rules. That is a lot of pressure, because no one can keep the rules. Even though they want you to believe you can if you try hard enough, the legalists know you just can't keep the rules. But in getting you to keep trying, they are keeping you in bondage to it. Break free. Christ never intended for life with Him to be bondage. There is freedom in Christ. Gone are the "got to's" and now we live in the "get to's." We get to read our Bible. We get to pray. We get to fellowship with other believers. We get to walk and live with Christ every day. Beyond that, let the Word of God be your guide.

Beloved, today is the day of opportunity. Live and walk and breathe in the liberty that is found in the freedom that comes from Christ Jesus. Don't allow the rules to drag you down. To put you in bondage after you have been set free. Do not become entangled again with those things that only lead to bondage. Amen? Amen.