Daily Worship

Freedom

November 06, 2014 0 0

Galatians 5: 1

 For freedom Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Reflection

Paul writes some hard words in the letter to the Galatians.  He and Peter are locked in an almighty struggle of leadership.  Their differences and respective commitment to mission are pulling in opposite directions.  The issue between them is to what extent do practices of the past have to be carried forward into the new, unfolding communities which are gathering around the story of Jesus?  The relentless requirement of the ‘old ways’ to submit to laws and practices which prevented a sense of God being up close and personal had been a form of legalistic slavery.  Jesus had challenged this and offered freedom from such constrictions.  So, how can meaningful leadership be provided to a people who yearn for and have received freedom?

 

Prayer

God of freedom,
The chains of artificial piety do not hold me back;
The cords which would tie me to irrelevant practices from the past have been broken;
The confinement of limited language which is tired from overuse and misuse cannot define me;
You have broken the pattern, O Christ,
and you offer a freedom which brings 
vigour,
new life,
healing,
peace,
and joy.

Let today be a day 
when this freedom breaks into my life.

Amen.