One of my favorite superhero quotes is "with great power comes great responsibility." As I was reading this scripture passage today, it seemed clear that in the same way "with great freedom comes great responsibility."
I think this was a struggle for the early church, and it is a battle we still continue to fight.
"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." -Galatians 5:13
The Law was full of dos and don'ts. At the heart of it all was the Ten Commandments. Just keeping the "Big Ten" perfectly seemed humanly impossible at times. When we look in the mirror with human eyes, it is easy to become proud and arrogant. We see what we want to see. We focus on our own successes, gifts, and self-importance... and we miss the true meaning of the greatest gift we were ever given.
Our freedom was not free. It was bought with a price. We humans focus on "equal and fair" while the nature of God includes justice along with mercy. We could never keep the scales balanced. Pride gets in our way. In the Garden, at the flood, the Tower of Babel, 40 years in the desert, 400 years when God seemed silent, and missing the Messiah because he came in the most unexpected package.
Life came through death. In dying to self, we find new life and opportunities to walk closely and humbly with our Lord. The goalpost changes. Victory takes on a new definition. Freedom takes on the face of great responsibility. In death, there is new life.
Forgiveness came at a price. What we do with His act of mercy and forgiveness is our gift back to the Father. Immanuel... God with us, for us, and not against us. One of the Father's sons paid the price for the rest of us. What does He ask?
"The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” -Luke 10:27
Serve one another...humbly (in some translations)... in love. Why? Because we are free! Free from chasing earthly things and focused on the end game. By His grace and mercy, we don't get what we deserve. Another paid our ransom. It cost him His life so we could be free.
Freedom isn't free. Do we respect, treasure, and remember what it cost?
Today, I am grateful for great freedom.
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