“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
–Galatians 5:1 (NLT)

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” Think about the people or things you stand for in your life. You might be standing for a great cause, a rock star or a sports team. But we find these things aren’t enough for us, and we keep shifting our loyalties around because we aren’t standing on any solid ground.

Once when I was about 5 or 6 years old, my dad and I were touring a historic fort in Minnesota. Keep in mind that I’ve been totally blind my whole life. Of course, I didn’t always take that into account when I was five years old. I was getting pretty bored, so I decided to explore. I found a nice hard surface, so I stepped up onto it and started walking around. The hard platform turned out to be a low table. My dad was talking to his friend, so he didn’t see what I had done. A minute later, I suddenly stepped off the edge of the table, and I found myself lying on the ground. I had bumped my head on the way down, so I was crying when my dad found me. My little fall off the table brought our tour to an abrupt end.

We often think we are standing on a secure foundation, but it’s only a matter of time before we fall, just like I fell off the table. Good causes are sometimes motivated by guilt and don’t last, and fame is fleeting.

Here’s another perspective to illustrate our opening verse. Timothy remembers visiting a store when he was in first grade. He could still see a few things at the time. He thought he saw someone in front of him, so he went to talk to her, only to learn a few minutes later that “she” was a mannequin.

In our lives, we are not only in danger of falling from lofty or elevated positions of freedom in the world. Some people find that in spite of everything they’ve accomplished, they are just as dead inside as that mannequin. This is why Paul tells us to stand (or be planted) in the liberty we find in Christ.

For while the Bible says there is pleasure in sin for a season, we often become enslaved to the things that we thought freed us. For example, you might go out and experiment with street drugs. At first, like a lot of people, you might enjoy the thrill and think they have expanded or altered your mind. But after a while, you would become a prisoner to them, always wondering when you were going to get your next high.

In contrast to this, the Bible tells us of a true freedom which has a firm foundation in Christ’s love. This freedom brings joy and peace, and allows us to serve others in love. It also allows us to be set free from our empty good works, as Christ works in us to transform us into His image.

The idea that freedom is nobody telling you what to do or how to think is an illusion, for we are all servants of a particular master. We can either choose to serve and be enslaved by the world, or we can serve and be freed by Christ. Do you want to serve the world and its illusions, or do you want to serve God’s son, who gave His life for you and wishes to give you a new life of freedom?

Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 377 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 260, Placentia, CA 92870. Finally, check out our online store at www.amway.com/burdicksbargains. In order to support us, please register for free on our store website before purchasing anything. Thank you!

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