Galatians 4: Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; ² But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. ³ Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: ⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵ To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

⁷ Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  ⁸ Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. ⁹ But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰ Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. ¹¹ I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.

Free.  I am not sure that my heart fully grasps the enormity of that word.  We talk about freedom in our country and in our lives, but we often allow this to mean license to live outside of moral boundaries, which exist for our good.  We talk about rights, but these seem to lead to corruption and debauchery.  I am not downplaying the blessing of laws that protect our ability to be open with faith.  I am extremely thankful for them.  However, the freedom God promises and provides exists regardless of outside circumstances; it is a heart issue, lifting us beyond ourselves to fully live as His children.

Still, I struggle.  I am caught trying to please people and manage expectations.  I am troubled when I sense judgment from others who do not know my heart.  I am stressed as I attempt to check off every intention and complete every task assigned by the world.

But my Father reminds me that I am free.  He holds no false expectation of who I am, for He created me and He knows me intimately.  More than I know Him, He knows me (v.9). He knows me, He loves me with an everlasting love, and His love frees me to be all He created me to be.

In Galatians 4, Paul spoke to the church of Galatia about this freedom.  Just as the liberty we enjoy in this country did not come without a price, the freedom that God desires for His children was costly.  The price was His Son’s death on the cross.  The purpose was to free us from the sin nature that holds us in bondage, to break the chains that bind our hearts and keep us from Him.  Once we come to Him in faith, these chains can no longer hold us.  He has purchased our freedom.

We are free in Him, but sometimes we don’t live in that freedom.  We place ourselves back under requirements and bind ourselves to beliefs that hide our vision of Him.  God, just as He did to the Galatians, calls us back to Himself – to live in Him as His children.   Paul called the Galatians ‘foolish’ in chapter 3 verse 1, because after coming to know Christ they went back to trying to earn their righteousness through the Old Testament law.  Our freedom as Christians exists in the fact that Christ, Himself, provides our righteousness; we are complete in Him.

John 8:36 – If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Father, Help me to live free today, not caught in the whirlwind of others’ expectations.  Let me be centered on You and what You desire for my life.