“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13
If you are in Christ, if He is your Lord, then you have been set free! For what purpose? How should you use your blood-bought freedom in Jesus Christ??? By going wild and doing whatever you feel like? No! By sitting around in leisure, entertaining yourself to death? No! By making it clear to everyone that nobody is the boss of you except yourself? No!
The precious freedom we enjoy in Jesus Christ – freedom from death, freedom from sin’s power, freedom from the burden of the law – is meant for far better purposes than all that. Our freedom isn’t about us at all. Our freedom is given to us so that we can live like Jesus, including the really hard and painful parts. We’re set free to practice love toward all in the church (including the unlovable folks) and to voluntarily serve one another, regardless of whether anyone “deserves” to be served.
Every Christian is a citizen of God’s Kingdom. In God’s Kingdom our calling is to freely love and serve each other. Not ourselves and not merely those we prefer to serve or enjoy serving. We must love and serve each other throughout the church. Freedom is a wondrous gift that unlocks not the joy of selfishness, but the joy of selflessness. Submit to one another freely. Serve one another voluntarily. Love one another unconditionally. Use your freedom as Christ intended!