For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT)
Yesterday America celebrated her birthday. Most people celebrated with fireworks, picnics, parties and food. It's a great day to remember this country and how/why we came to be. This text made me think......
America was founded in the belief that all men, women and children were created equal (granted we have and still struggle with the equal part). And it was founded to give men the right to religious freedom. We are blessed to live in a country where freedom is so important and key to who we are.
It seems God also calls us to that same kind of freedom. Freedom from our sinful natures. Freedom to be better than who we can be, freedom to reach for something bigger than ourselves. Paul says all this can be summed up in one command "Love your neighbor as yourself." Isn't this all the same thing? Freedom to respect and love each other as we would respect and love ourselves. Freedom to serve each other and take care of our fellow man.
God doesn't put caveats on who should be treated this way. We all should be treated this way and we all should offer this to each other. Deep down in my soul I know if we did this, we would be truly free. And the world would be a better place.