Use your freedom to serve others

"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 NLT

Like thousands of other runners across the United States this past weekend, Frankie Defore participated in an organized event to celebrate Independence Day and the freedom it brought to the citizens of this great nation. What was most special to him about running the Peachtree Road Race, though, was celebrating his personal freedom by conquering the infamous Cardiac Hill which runs through the hospital district and is considered a motivating experience for both the runners and the patients cheering them on. “I’ll never forget those days that she would get up and get dressed and go running, and I couldn’t go with her,” said runner Frankie Defore. For Defore, that runner was his sister. Two years ago, he was one of the patients at Piedmont Hospital. “I was 35 years old, laying in a bed, and I was dying,” said Defore. He was in the final stages heart failure. Doctors didn’t give him long to live. However, a life-changing surgery and a commitment to lifestyle changes turned that around. Speaking on his time in the hospital, Defore said, “A lot of people don’t make it out of there. They go in with heart failure and come out in a box.” In two years, he went from cardiac failure to Cardiac Hill. “Now, everything I do is in service of other people, even my running,” said Defore. “I hope to serve as an inspiration.”

And you know, when it comes to freedom and service of other people, the Bible tells us that you and I "have been called to live in freedom." However, we aren't to use that freedom to satisfy our sinful natures but to "serve one another in love." Paul was warning the church at Galatia that although they were free to do what they wanted, living in sin would take away their God-given freedom by making them a slave to Satan and their own fleshly desires... which was really no freedom at all. In contrast, by crucifying the flesh, we are free from the bondage of sin and gain the freedom to bring God glory through our loving acts of service. 

So commit to making those "lifestyle changes" that will allow you to be free from sin and to use your freedom to serve others in love my friend. You'll not only glorify the Lord but will be able to celebrate the true freedom that comes from surrendering your will to Christ. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that, although we are free, we become slaves to sin when we don't follow You as we are supposed to. Help us to understand this fully Lord that we might make every effort to discipline our flesh so that we can truly be free. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!