FREEDOM OF CHOICE: WE CAN CHOOSE FREEDOM OR BONDAGE

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Formerly, when you did not know God, 
you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 
(Galatians 4:8) 

MEDITATION:
If someone served their time in prison and was finally released, 
we can only imagine how it must feel for them to be free again. 
However, if we saw them outside the prison gates wanting to be 
incarcerated again, it wouldn’t make any sense to us would it?

Imagine being in the bondage of a small cell 
surrounded by prison walls for years and years.
Walking around the prison yard looking up at the sky 
and seeing birds freely flying overhead.

Staring at the walls and thinking about what the people 
are doing on the outside who are not confined to a small area. 
Anticipating the day when they would finally be free themselves.
It would be ludicrous for us to even think 
they would want to return to prison after receiving their freedom.

That was how Paul felt when he realized that some of the Galatians 
were choosing to be under the bondage of sin once again 
after they had received freedom through Christ.
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 4:9)

Apparently the Galatians had forgotten the misery that sin brings 
and the separation of fellowship from God it creates.
In addition, they must have ‘drifted’ enough back toward sin, 
that they had become desensitized to the overwhelming feelings 
of guilt associated with sin.  

That’s how Satan works doesn’t he?
We feel the guiltiness of sin, but the more we sin, the less guilty we feel.
Whenever we belong to the Lord, 
I believe that He loves us so much that He wants to help us 
avoid the things that will hurt us, so He keeps us on a short leash.

Since He gives us the freedom of choice, 
we might start ‘sniffing’ at the things near the boundaries He established, 
but whenever we try to extend His boundaries, 
we can expect a sudden yank of the leash.
We could suddenly have health issues, family or financial problems, 
or any other difficulties that will ‘get our attention’.

Why would loving God allow those things into our lives?
Because He loves us, and desperate times call for desperate actions.
If we have become deaf to the whispers of the Holy Spirit within us,
then ‘something’ needs to get our attention.
And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses 
you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of 
the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because 
the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts 
as his son.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)

God doesn’t do things to ‘break’ our Spirit; He is a loving Father so He 
allows things in our lives that will contribute to ‘reviving’ His Spirit in us.
God knows that when His Spirit is alive in us, we will be able to experience 
the things in life that are good for us and pleasing to Him.

ACTION:
Has the Holy Spirit’s voice started fading and become faint in your life? 
Have you deafened your ears to His voice 
and started straining to extend the boundaries created by God?
Are you heading back toward the bondage of sin that you have been freed from?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me enough to get my attention 
whenever I start allowing sin to regain the control it once had on me. 
Thank You for knowing that each sinful act makes the next one easier, 
and for Your efforts to prevent my return to the bondage of sin. Forgive 
me if I have failed to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice (or ignored it) when 
He urges me to use the faculties You have given me for honoring, praising 
and serving You. Help me to be more obedient to Your commands so that I 
will avoid doing the things that displease You and will do the things 
that please You. When Your Word tells me to ‘not give up meeting together’ 
remind me that You are commanding me to meet with other believers in 
Your House.”

BLOG: utvolwoody.wordpress.com