Armed and Ready

Galatians 5:1 (MSG)  Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.


Freedom is a gift, it is worth fighting for, dying for and mostly it is worth living for.  Do we feel free, or recognize the freedoms we have as Christ followers?  Before reaching out and grasping a personal relationship with Jesus, I was not free.  Shame and guilt had a tight hold on me.  I was a prisoner to my past that was equally afraid of tomorrow. 

Soldiers know what freedom is; they strive to maintain our freedom with every moment of training and active duty. They are committed to keep us free from aggressors who want to imprison our minds and bodies. The freedom Jesus want to provide is the freedom from Spiritual death; eternal death. Wars our military are preparing to protect us from now days could soon be about our religious freedoms.

We may wonder why we have days when we feel chained to our lives; bound to the mundane madness of living without feeling alive. I know this to be true, when the enemy prowls we need to be ready.  When the enemy is so cunning we can't recognize him, we need to be wrapped in the Armor of God.

Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

This Armor will keep us safe, will protect us from death and will bring us safely home.

Galatians 5

Galatians 5:1

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.   Galatians 5:1 (NIV)   

Do you ever stop and think what it will be like when Christ returns, when everyone on earth is a believer and there is no illness, pain or sorrow and no death.  Imagine for a minute with me-what could that look like?  I think if we can come up with a mental picture of the Garden of Eden we might be close. Will the New Earth be like Eden or will it be like a earth, only perfect.  Or are they the same?

We don't have answers to these questions, but it is fun to dream.  When we think of loved ones who are already a part of God's world it gives such comfort to dream of a time when we will be united as the Family of God.  These thoughts give me gratitude for my salvation.

Sin is bondage.  Christ has freed us from this bondage.  Scripture says were forgiven even before we committed the sin.  That is real freedom.  That is real grace.  The last part of the verse for today directs us to  act free.  We are to believe this and never allow Satan to burden us with guilt or shame.  The Message Bible puts it this way:  Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.