We were once captive to sin and death, but in Christ, we have been set free. Jesus didn’t just take this old yoke off us and cast it aside – He shattered it. It can never be placed on us again. This is the good news of the Gospel.

As amazing as that is, our freedom does not end there. Our freedom is not just understood in terms of from, but also for. Our freedom is not to be used as an opportunity to sin in an abuse of grace, but rather for service of others (Galatians 5:13). As believers, we can refrain from sin and to obey God. One way we obey God is by submitting to His authority and loving and serving others. This is the freedom we have, and it is found in voluntarily yielding to our Father and placing others’ needs above our own.

• Which aspect of your freedom tends to be more challenging for you: abstaining from sin or obeying God? Why?