Do parts of Scripture ever remind you of movie scenes?
I always think of the movie Braveheart when I hear Saint Paul remind the Galatians to "stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." There is a pivotal scene where William Wallace is about to be executed, and the executioner asks him if he has any final words before his death. Through his pain, Wallace utters a gut wrenching cry, "FREEDOM!" In his last breath, he utters a rallying call to the Scottish people as a reminder of the freedom they so desperately lived, fought, and died for. Freedom is not free. It comes with a great price; both of which the movie Braveheart and Saint Paul today remind us of today.
The rallying cry of William Wallace can be cry for all Christian people in today's world. We live in a world that is broken, hurting, and enslaved in sin and pain. One of greatest challenges of living the Christian life is breaking the chains of slavery in our own lives that bind us and hold us down. Jesus wants our freedom more than anything. He gave it to us freely, a gift of great love.
Sometimes we can be enslaved in life and not even know it. But we don't have to go back to that yoke of slavery. Jesus has set us free from a life of brokenness and sin so that we can live in true freedom: the freedom of His love and mercy.
Are there areas in your life where you are not free, but enslaved? Are you living in the freedom of Christ or the yoke of slavery?
Bring those areas into the light . . . talk about them with the Lord today.
Stand firm today and each day dear sister, and may you live in true FREEDOM.
Patty Hubbard is a new-ish wife finishing grad school, working in youth ministry, and learning to cook more than your average Lean Cuisine. You can find out more about her here.