Use Freedom Carefully...

Galatians 5:13 (NIV) - "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." Freedom is meant to be enjoyed and shared but it is best used carefully under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our sinful nature, or flesh, is egotistical and selfish and if we are not led by the Spirit, it is easy to hurt and cause damage to others by the use the freedom we have been given in Christ. Don't separate freedom and love. Look at the way The Message further explains this passage: (verses 13-15) - "It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?" Something to think about, huh?