August 5: Insight Post by Rusty Coram
Wednesday Insight Post
by Rusty Coram
One of our readings this week bears extra focus because it is an oxymoron - a combination of two opposites. God does this at times to get our undivided attention and cause us to challenge our conventional thinking. So here is the verse: “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) Free to serve? But if I am called to live in freedom, doesn’t that mean I can do whatever I want now? The idea of freedom gets a lot of attention, but in reality, none of us is actually “free;” we do get to choose how we follow. Many years ago, during a time when he was seriously exploring the Christian faith, Bob Dylan wrote the song “Gotta Serve Somebody,” and the chorus says this:
“But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”
When I meet Jesus, He invites me to give up my old way of living with my sinful nature in control and instead deliberately choose to surrender and follow Him. By doing this, I find the life I was created to experience and enjoy - a life that finds fulfillment in using my time, talent, treasure, and influence in serving God’s purposes by serving the needs of others just like Jesus did. Rather than squander my life pursuing my own agenda, I humbly become a servant of Jesus so I can be His partner in serving others so they can know and find freedom too. Like Paul in the New Testament, I can then say, “15Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.” Romans 6:15–18 (NLT)
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor