Pattern of Liberty and Bondage

UV 2836/10000 Pattern of Liberty and Bondage
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5 v 1
There are different types of freedom: political freedom or self rule, economic freedom, social freedom and spiritual freedom. The highest form of freedom is spiritual freedom. Christ has set us free from the bondage of sin and death. He being the personification of Truth and the fulfilment of all the laws of God is able and willing to lift the heavy yoke of bondage that lies on the shoulders of all mankind. We are no longer servants of sin but servants of righteousness. We were once sold out to the enemy of our souls. Now, we are sold out to Christ.
We are set free from such bondage, the responsibility is ours not to yearn for such slavery to sin even as the Israelites longed for the bondage of Egypt while they sojourned in the desert. We should not entertain the thought or attempt to sell ourselves again to the enemy. We do so by holding firm to the hope and confidence we have in Christ and the salvation He provides for all who believe in Him.
St Paul uses the metaphor of a soldier not getting entangled in civilian affairs but subjects himself continually to training and discipline so that he is victorious as an individual fighter and also contributes to the overall victory of the army or the kingdom to which he belongs. Many of us tie ourselves up in knots by not heeding the voice of our divine Trainer- the Holy Spirit. We do not study the manual of training- the Bible. We do not apply biblical principles to daily living, consequently, we get entangled in sin. We rush into situations where a heavy yoke is placed again on our shoulders. We have to defend our hard won freedom from sin and death by wearing the full armour of God. We have to use and enjoy our freedom and not abuse it. We need to discipline our appetite for the privileges and pleasures of this world unlike the ancient Israelites who cried for the meat that was served to them while they were slaves in Egypt. They invited the displeasure of God and consequently, curses of disease and death upon themselves though they were set free from slavery in Egypt. We need to emulate Daniel who though a slave in Babylon, spurned the meat from the king’s table. We need to limit our scope of desires and actions and attitudes to those which please the Lord. In this sense, we are servants of righteousness though we have been declared by Jesus to be His friends and brothers.
Prateep V Philip