We are Free. Let’s Live Like it!
Have you ever felt trapped? Stuck? Like you had nowhere to go, and there was no way out?
One night, when I lived next door to my parents, a bird got stuck in their house. My parents were traveling, and a friend was staying there. When our friend opened the front door, a bird came in and quickly flew up to the second floor. She called me over, and we did everything we could to help that bird find its way back outside. First, we opened the sliding glass door to provide a clear exit. Then we waved our arms, swung the broom around, and, I am sure, made a lot of racket.
I don’t know how long we chased that bird around, but it felt like an hour. Eventually, we got it back downstairs and out the front door. Even though the whole time there was a large door that provided the way to freedom, the bird didn’t realize it. Instead of escaping, it stayed inside with two crazy ladies waving their arms and swinging brooms at it.
Sometimes, we are a lot like that bird. We have a clear path to freedom but choose not to take it. We have a way to safety, but we don’t take the opportunity in front of us. We can all think of people we know who are stuck in bondage—maybe it’s to anxiety, hatred, bitterness, alcohol, social media, drugs, or sex. And we have all been that person—we have desired freedom but instead fall into the same traps over and over again.
In Galatians, the Apostle Paul talks about this very thing. Listen closely to Galatians 5:1 NIV, “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.” As God’s children, we are free. Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again for our freedom. But far too often, you can’t tell that by looking at our lives. Like a prisoner who remains inside the cell, even after it is unlocked, we stay stuck in our chains and bondage. We might be free, but we are not living like it.
Looking back through the book of Galatians, we learn that Paul is addressing a specific scenario in the church. The book of Galatians is written for believers who experienced freedom but are falling back into the traps of the past. In chapter 1:6-7 Paul observes, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.”
The church was abandoning the truth and, in turn, abandoning their freedom. Galatians 4:9 explains, “But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” Galatians 5:7 puts it this way, “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?”
Let’s look more closely at 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.”
In the first phrase, we observe these facts:
- Fact 1: Christ set us free.
- Fact 2: We are free.
- Fact 3: We should walk in freedom
In the second phrase, we observe two commands:
- Command 1: Stand firm.
- Command 2: Don’t go back to slavery.
Paul appeals to Christians to stay rooted in what they know to be true and not to return to their old lives before Christ. The word “burdened” can also be translated as “submit.” Throughout the New Testament, submission carries the idea of willingly placing one under the authority of another. When we abandon our freedom, we willingly put ourselves under the authority of sin. Wow! That is sobering, isn’t it?
But we can be encouraged—Jesus has overcome the power of sin. He said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” If you are in a place where that abundant life seems far away, and the destructive life seems more present and available, it is important that you recognize we have an enemy who is a thief and a liar. While Jesus wants what is good, right, and true, the enemy’s aim is to trap and eventually destroy us.
The lies of Satan go back to the garden with Adam and Eve. In her book Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free, Nancy Leigh Demoss outlines a four-part strategy of deception used by Satan to lead us into bondage. Satan’s plan is to get us to:
- Listen to a lie
- Dwell on the lie
- Believe the lie
- Act on the lie
We need to recognize that we have an enemy who lies to us. When we listen to his words and allow them to permeate our minds, they will eventually work their way into our belief system and manifest themselves in our actions. Nancy wisely notes that “every area of bondage in our lives can be traced back to a lie.”
Once we recognize the lies, we must stand firm and live out our freedom. Jesus tells us exactly how to do that in John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” I told you about my experience with a bird trapped in my parent’s home. Let me tell you about a similar but much less pleasant experience. One night, I woke up to an unfamiliar noise in my bedroom. A few minutes later, I realized it was from a bat circling my room. After contemplating what to do, I came to a conclusion. Either I was leaving my house or the bat was—there was no way we were both staying there together!
After a few more minutes, I concluded that fleeing my home in deference to a bat was not a good option, so I started to contemplate how I could catch that bat. Then, it occurred to me that bats hate light. So I tried something simple—I turned on the light. Instantly, the bat cowered down. Then, I was able to catch it and remove it from my home.
My experience with the bat reminds me of the power of truth. Just like that bat cowered in the light, all darkness is dispelled by the light. Lies cannot stand in the presence of truth.
The Galatian church was dealing with one lie in particular: I can work hard enough to please God. You see, these Gentile believers were listening to the voice of the Jewish Christians instead of God’s voice. The Jews were telling them they needed to perform in order to please God. Suddenly, the church was falling into a two-part trap. They were trying to please the Jews, and in turn, they were trying to work for their salvation. Galatians 1:10 summarizes the lie, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
The only rescue from this lie that we can work hard enough to please God is knowing the truth: we please God through faith, not works. Ephesians 2:8-9 explains, “for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
What about you? What lies are you telling yourself? What truth do you need to believe in order to counteract and overcome those lies?
Learn how to identify the lies that are keeping you stuck—download the free guide now!
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