Two Ways to Live, part 2

Sorry this has taken awhile; my old laptop finally died and I've been trying to get my new one up to speed.

The last post showed what a life of slavery looked like, as illustrated by Paul in Galatians 4:21-29 with Hagar and Ishmael. We now see the free way to live in this same passage, illustrated by Sarah and Isaac.

1. Live by God's promise, desire, and ability (Galatians 4:23).

It took much faith to conceive Isaac, for Sarah was old and barren! Only God could make that happen. Paul quotes Isaiah 54:1 here, which is a beautiful illustration of the gospel. Childbearing was so important in this time because it equated political, financial, and social success for not just the family, but for the entire community and nation! So how was a barren woman to rejoice? The only way for the barren - or the poor, marginalized, needy, or anybody deemed less than worthy by society - to rejoice is to have their hearts completely restructured by the gospel and all they need for their worth in Jesus and his ability to do great things.

2. Unburdened, loved, & accepted (Galatians 4:24, 26)

As Hagar symbolically represented the Mosaic Covenant, Sarah represents the New Covenant in Jesus. Jesus himself said in Matthew 11:28-30 that following him resulted in a light & easy load. Looking to the law for justification is fully removed, for we are justified by faith in Jesus.

3. Vertically focused (Galatians 4:26)

Paul sets our eyes upward on the perfect, heavenly city of Jerusalem that God will one day institute here. We look upward for our source of life, love and acceptance, living the life of a worshipper who is focused on pleasing God and not man (Galatians 1:10).

4. Persecuted (Galatians 4:29)

Christ-followers are certainly promised persecution in their lives! Sadly, much of the persecution comes not from "the world" but from those who actually claim to follow Jesus (or are religious in general). Freedom is seen as a threat, and insecure religious people always want to remove the threat.

Are these "markers for freedom" true in your life? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the areas that you are still living as a slave so you can begin to turn toward freedom.