A Compelling Truth: A 30 Day Journey through Galatians with Rob StanmoreSample

DAY 22

From what we’ve read in Galatians, what does this freedom life look like?

Does it mean we just go back to living the way we were before we accepted Jesus? Or am I free from the world?

Paul writes the significant deviation of what freedom really looks like, from the perception of the Galatian church.

Freedom doesn’t say, “I can now live how I want to live", but rather asks, “How can I now live for Him?”

We live from approval by God rather than living from fear of God.

However, this freedom doesn’t take away desires. 

We live in a freedom where we have both sinful desires and Godly desires within us.

It reminds me of an old indigenous Cherokee metaphor written about this battle in a conversation with his grandson:

 “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil–he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you–and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

In verse 16, Paul brings in the Holy Spirit to show us how he can lead and guide us into living for God. When we look at this metaphor, we can choose to feed the right voices for our freedom. 

We need to tune in and listen to the Holy Spirit’s guide to feed the right voice. When we choose to listen to the right voices, we are led to better choices.

We can now live from approval by God, to live for Him.

Question

When you know you are approved, how does that change the way you approach how you live?