“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. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”—Galatians 5:13–14 (NLT)

I’m blessed to live and pastor in South Florida. The beach is within driving distance from my house, and the weather is great pretty much every day. What many people travel to see, we get to enjoy all year long. What a blessing! The sad thing is, although I live in this beautiful vacation destination, sometimes I go through seasons where I don’t go to the beach for months. I forget how great it is, and I take it for granted. 

As Christians, sometimes we do that, too. We take for granted the beautiful freedom we have in Jesus. He freed us from sin and the power of the grave. He empowered us to be influencers and ambassadors, but sometimes we settle for the mundane. Sometimes we settle for just living life, going through the motions—waking up, going to work, paying the bills, etc. . . . you can probably relate. Sometimes, we forget that this powerful freedom is meant to be spent on loving people, healing people, and sharing Christ with everyone around us. 

Jesus can’t be compared to a beautiful beach or a day of sand and waves—He’s so much more! He’s the one who sets us free. We’re free from our past, free from our guilt, and look forward to an eternity with Him. Why then, after all this, do we find ourselves taking this freedom for granted? Why do we sometimes find ourselves living below the freedom God intended for us? This freedom is meant to empower us. It’s meant to give us a fire for the lost, the hurting, and the broken. 

We’ve been called for greater things. We’ve been called to be salt and light to those around us. We’ve been freed for a reason: so we can share this glorious freedom with others. 

This freedom is grounded in the love of a Savior. This freedom was bought at a price: the love Jesus poured out on the cross for you and me. That love makes us want to respond. The more we think about it, it makes us want to take action and love others. It’s because of His love that we love others. We see it in His example. We see the need around us, and we’re called to act! We are loved people, loving people.  

Pause: Stop and think of all God has done for you: this week, last week, last month, over the course of your life. Think about the freedoms God has given you.

Practice: Ask yourself, “How can I pay it forward? Is there someone God wants me to show His love to? What can I do or say this week to put God’s love on display?”

PRAY: Lord in heaven, You’ve graciously given us Your very own Spirit! Thank You for Your grace and mercy. You’ve granted us freedom from sin and shame through Jesus. Blessed be Your name forever and ever. Lord, I ask You to fill us this day with Your life-giving Spirit, that we, Your servants, may love one another as You have loved us. Make us servants of one another, of Your beloved church, in love and with humility, seeking the edification of our neighbors. You call us, Lord, to love our neighbors as ourselves. Empower us by Your Spirit to walk this out. Lord, we turn from our often self-centered and self-seeking ways that cause us to abandon love. We repent also for when we have used grace as an excuse to wound one another or remain hardened in our hearts. Father, have mercy on us as we grant mercy to those who have acted in like fashion. Lord, instruct our hearts and lead us in Your love. Make us instruments of love. May we fulfill Your commandments by letting love govern how we treat our neighbors. Lord, make us a body seeking to serve with spirits and hearts that reflect the gentle and lowly nature of our Savior. In the name of Jesus, our Shepherd and King, I pray. Amen.