It Doesn’t Have to Happen Again

 Christ has set us free

to live a free life.

So take your stand!

— Galatians 5:1a+b,

The Message version

We’re spending our holiday weekend with these first two parts of this verse.

This weekend, there are followers of Christ in places of great oppresion and violence who are literally risking everything  to gather with other believers for worship, prayer, study and service.

And they are.

This weekend, there are also followers of Christ in places of great freedom and safety who choose to not be bothered to gather with other believers for worship, prayer, study and service.

And they don’t.

You and me?

My hope and prayer is that we’ll realize that  Christ has set us free to live a free life, and that part of that freedom-in-Christ means taking a stand as we gather with other believers for worship, prayer, study and service.

Sound like too much trouble?  Brace yourself for how this verse ends:

Christ has set us free

to live a free life.

So take your stand!

Never again let anyone

put a harness of slavery on you.

— Galatians 5:1a, b, + c

The Message version

It’s a choice today.

So take your stand!  Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.