Freedom is amazing. But freedom isn't free; it took someone a lot of work, it took sacrifice. Thus the second part of this verse-- "Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Some of the freedoms people enjoy are freedom from addictions, freedom from a negative mindset, freedom from anger, freedom of religion. And each of these has a cost. Someone paid a price for each form of freedom. Some freedoms I have to pay a cost and you have to pay a cost--we each have to choose to let go of the slavery and walk in the freedom.
I have someone very dear to me who has an addiction to alcohol. This has cost dearly, but this person has to pay the cost by choosing to do whatever helps him not fall into the well of this addiction. It may mean attending AA meetings or not hanging with the friends he normally drinks with. It may mean keeping photos of family members close by to remind him why he doesn't want to take that next drink.
A slavery to a negative mindset is the same thing. We must choose to replace those negative thoughts with positive thoughts. We must learn to set our minds on the things that are lovely, pure, praiseworthy.
But oh the freedom! Once we have tasted freedom we never want to be enslaved again. So, enjoy your freedoms today. Take care, stand firm, don't let yourself be enslaved again. Maybe even lend a helping hand to another who is enslaved in some way and enjoy participating in another becoming free.
Comments