In his letter to the Galatians, Paul says that freedom is an opportunity to serve one another through love (Gal. 5:13). Jesus is our example of how to minister in this way: He emptied Himself and took the form of a human and a bondservant (Phil. 2:7). And “He loved [believers] to the end” (John 13:1), telling His disciples, “I am among you as the one who serves” (Luke 22:27). Jesus—who served throughout His earthly life and suffered on the cross—was the freest man who ever lived.
To love in a way that reflects the love of Christ requires submitting to His will and trusting Him to guide us. Or to put it another way, this kind of love means surrendering our entire life. But that doesn’t mean we lose freedom. In fact, the opposite is true: We’re liberated to do exactly what the Lord has called us to do—to love one another completely and without condition, just as He loves us.
Think about it
• Think about what you know of the Lord’s life on earth. How did Jesus demonstrate walking in freedom?
• How do we serve one another through love when we have our own needs to consider?