Galatians 5:1
Christ defines your faith; he is your freedom from anything the law could never free you from! Find your firm footing in this freedom. Do not let religion trip you up again and harness you to a system of rules and obligations! (Mirror Bible)
Are you freely giving?
In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the need to belong comes right after the need to have food and be safe. It is pretty important in the life of every human being. As a Christian, you often seek to fulfill that need in church or in some Christian ministry, group or club. Depending on where you are in your relationship with the Lord, your need to belong could put you in a position where you compromise what you know is true just to be accepted by a person or the group. This is such a strategic tool used by the enemy. There is a lot of damage that people who are sincere, just sincerely wrong, can do.
Colossians 2:16-19 So don’t put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ. 18-19 Don’t tolerate people who try to run your life, ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their obsession with angels and that you seek out visions. They’re a lot of hot air, that’s all they are. They’re completely out of touch with the source of life, Christ, who puts us together in one piece, whose very breath and blood flow through us. He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as he nourishes us. (The Message)
Just remember, You Are Free. You don’t have to agree with anyone on every issue. You can stand on what you believe. No one can require anything of you. Not your time, talent, money, allegiance, presence at events, obedience, etc. YOU ARE FREE.
1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing [the special gift, the preparation] which you received from Him remains [permanently] in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But just as His anointing teaches you [giving you insight through the presence of the Holy Spirit] about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as His anointing has taught you, you must remain in Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him]. (Amplified Bible)
In your freedom, you must allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. You don’t want to defy the Lord. It is important that you understand, you only rebel against the Lord. He is the only power over your life. He has given you an unction. You will know when you are being obedient to Him through the local church and when you are being rebellious. Be excited about this information and walk in the freedom Jesus died for. God loves a cheerful giver.
Please agree with me as I pray:
Father, I want to serve You out of my love for You. I repent for not doing that. I will not allow someone to impose rules, regulations, and obligations on my life to fit their agenda. If what anyone requests of me doesn’t fall in line with what You’ve already spoken to me; You have given me the courage to say no. I want to do what I do, because I love You; not because I’m trying to gain footing in some place or with certain people. You continue to guide and direct me; unveiling what You have ordained for my life. I know my obedience to You must follow what You have spoken to me. I understand I can and should show my obedience to You through my experiences in whatever ministry or local church I’m assigned to. I also know You will show me how. Thank you for giving me deeper understanding. Man-made goals cannot and will not supersede what You have ordained. I thank You for showing me I don’t have to be bound anymore. I can walk in You freely, love You freely, obey You freely, and give freely…
ASK THE LORD WHAT HE WANTS TO SAY TO YOU ABOUT TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND JOURNAL IT HERE