Devotions with Holly Woodbridge

The Do’s and Don’ts of Freedom – A pondering by Holly Woodbridge
We just celebrated the Fourth of July, but we don’t really celebrate the date on a calendar. We celebrate the freedom that date represents for America.
We, the people of God, are a people of a greater freedom. We celebrate freedom every day. But, what about this freedom?
Here are some Do’s and Don’ts of the Freedom found in Christ.

Read all of 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…
Do stand firm. Don’tbe burdened again.

7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you…

Do run the race. Do obey the Truth.Don’t be misguided.

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other…

Do serve one another. Dolove your neighbor. Don’t bite and devour each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…

Do walk by the Spirit. Don’t fulfill desires of the flesh.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other…

Do live by the Spirit. Dokeep in step with the Spirit. Don’tbe conceited. Don’tprovoke. Don’t envy.

This all happens by the power of God’s Spirit living inside us. So, celebrate your freedom. Love a neighbor, Serve your church family, Live in Truth… It is time to be a Sparkler and Light up our World.