July 5th

Blind Corners

But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him...But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 1 Corinthians 8:3,9

Americans love their freedom, and Christians love their freedom that much more.

In many lives, this freedom turns into licentiousness-the permit to sin without accountability or consequence.

When the New Testament era began, God gave a freedom to His people through Christ Jesus that they had never before known. The Jews in the Old Testament had their Law, and many Jews wanted the new Gentile converts to adopt these laws. But God gave them only one law-the Law of Love.

Paul wrote the Corinthian church to straighten out their priorities concerning their liberty. He said, You know that you are free, and that's good, but do you understand the purpose of your freedom?

Within the church, at that time, the people knew well that they were free from law. They understood that they had the right to do whatever they wanted to do, but this freedom went to their heads.

It became a selfish obsession that was more important than the other believers around them. It was better, in their eyes, to do something that used to be taboo simply because they were free than to prefer their brother who still wasn't so sure it was okay.

Paul set the record straight, saying, It is more important to be kind to your brother or sister in Christ than to take full advantage of your freedom, because your freedom is pointless without love.

The heart of this truth is the heart of God. Jesus was free to stay in heaven and let us die in our sin, but His love trumped His freedom, so He laid down His life for us. In so doing, He both set us free and gave us the example of love in which we should follow.

Take a moment to examine your life. Which takes higher priority for you-your freedom or your love? Your answer to this question will tell you how much of God's heart beats inside of you.

Prayer Father God,

If I am Your child, then I know I should be like You. You put Your love before Your freedom, and because of that, I am Yours. Please help me to do the same for the people around me.

Amen