Freed but not Free

When I was appointed pastor at Martin Top, which now seems about fifteen decades ago, no-one explained to be that a significant proportion of my duties would involve releasing trapped butterflies. Cupping them in my hands without damaging their fragile wings, I remove them from the chapel and let them go back into the open air. One I attempted to set at liberty this past week seemed to find my hand rather too comfortable. Having got him into the open air, blowing him into flying off did not work, neither did pressing him against a leaf. Although he was technically free, he was not enjoying the benefit of that freedom until he opened again his wings and fluttered away. Skulking on my hand and staring at the world would procure for him none of that precious nectar he so needed.

We Christians have been freed by Christ- freed from condemnation, freed from the penalty of the Law, freed from sin’s dominion over our lives. While we are not released from out duty to obey God’s law and live lives pleasing to Him, we are still freedmen and freedwomen. So live in the benefit of that freedom- be joyful, be useful, be grateful.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1