The Freedom in Christ Jesus!

‘You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.’ – Galatians 5:13-14, Romans 7:4 NIV

Because of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion (Colossians 2:13-15) and resurrection (John 11:25-26)—we are called to be free from the slaves of sin (Hebrews 2:14-15, 1 Thessalonians 4:14). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) In other words, we have been sinners before Christ was crucified (Romans 3:23) because of the world (Romans 5:12). Nevertheless, because we are parts of God’s creation (Genesis 1:27)—God has loved us so much that He was willing to come down from heaven into the world, as Jesus Christ (John 1:14) to be crucified as atonement of our sins (Colossians 2:13-15). Thus, we might have another chance to go to Garden of Eden, our original home at the end of the age through faith in Christ Jesus.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18)

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)

Therefore,  since He showed us His great love—we are able to love others (1 John 4:19). In fact, the second greatest commandment from God is “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) In addition, the word of God states, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) Thus, for this reason, the word of God declares,

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)

Hence, we ought to serve one another in love, for we are members of one another in Christ Jesus (Romans 12:4-5). This is because each one of us are members of His body (1 Corinthians 12:27). Furthermore, the word of God proclaims,

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

Moreover, serving one another in love produces the fruit for God. This is because if we are serving others in love, we produce the remaining fruit of the Spirit other than love, such as, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). In addition to this, we are becoming more like Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. For this reason, the word of God declares,

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. (Galatians 5:24-25)

As for me, I am serving others in love everyday through devotionals. This is because I write devotionals every day (except school days) and send them by e-mail. In addition, I post them online anywhere I can, as my mission is to influence others spiritually, for the kingdom (Matthew 7:21) and the glory of God (Colossians 3:4). Because of this, I wanted to serve my American Church, Promise International Fellowship. However, I did not feel confident in this, as I thought that I could not do devotional-writing everyday and maybe about timing as well. Nevertheless, I should have asked my American Pastor about this. Nonetheless, because devotional-writing is the will of God of mine, the Holy Spirit just opened a new door of ministry, that I can serve the church in New Zealand through devotional-writing. In other words, I have been offered to write weekly devotionals for Windsor Park Baptist Church by Richard Pierce, the Spiritual Formation Pastor, and Jacqui Caetano, who writes weekly prayer reflections for the church. Furthermore, I was realised by Galatians 5:13-14, that I have to sleep early to serve one another through devotional-writing in morning-afternoons. This is also because of Philippians 2:3-4 that declare, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Thus, for these reasons, I am going to really try to fix my time-management once for all and be more selfless. Moreover, I feel like I am becoming more like Jesus Christ to do the will of God, where the word of God proclaims, ‘“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”’ (John 4:34) This is because I feel more hungry spiritually rather than in physical ways when I do devotional-writing.