“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Exodus 20:2 NIV
We may have never walked in the land of Egypt but Christ has set us free! Sin is its own form of slavery, trapping us in unhealthy thought patterns, promising to satisfy but rendering us helpless and empty inside.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV
Once set free, is it possible to fall back into sinful habits and find ourselves enslaved all over again? Absolutely. We get to choose where our allegiance lies. We decide who becomes our master; our actions declaring who we serve.
Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:16 BSB
Paul tells us to stand firm, to not let ourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. It takes strength to stand firm, to resist temptation; it requires internal fortitude and resolve.
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 BSB
Do you have what it takes to stand firm? Do you share Paul’s resolve to be mastered by nothing?
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV
Will you set aside pornography, addictions, and sinful thoughts? Do you realize that these are the tools the enemy will use to destroy you? Will you have the courage to ask for help when you can’t stand strong on your own?
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 BSB
Christ died to give us freedom, but we must walk in it.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 BSB