至今我的哥哥姊姊有时仍然会嘲笑我，说我小时候总是尽情表达我的自由，就如我会脱掉衣服往街上跑，母亲要派一个哥哥或姊姊抓我回家。小小年纪的我，是否已经习染了放纵犯罪的态度呢？可能是的！
保罗警戒我们不可滥用自由，他说的是什么自由呢？是指我们在西方国家享有的基本人权自由吗？不是！因为即使那些坐牢的，或那些住在没有自由的国家的人，也同样享受到保罗所说的自由。这是只有福音才能带来的自由，这是不受罪的捆绑，也是不拘泥于法规的自由。
加拉太人接受了基督的福音后，他们便已经享有这种自由，可是他们似乎濒临再次被罪和律法主义辖制的危险。自由非常可贵，它是用我们救主耶稣基督的宝血买回来的。
林肯总统深明自由是何等宝贵，当他签署解放黑奴宣言来让美国的奴隶重获自由之前，他要确保他的手是稳定的。在坚定地签上名字后，他这样说： “我不愿意我的签名看起来有任何迟疑的迹象。”
耶稣的福音叫人得到真正的自由，这自由带给我们新生命，更召唤我们使用它来服侍别人。
主耶稣，祢在十字架上为我们赢取了自由，我们为此欢喜快乐。求祢赐能力给我们，叫我们在一切人际关系中活出这自由。奉祢的名祈求，阿们。
加拉太书 5:13-14
13弟兄们，你们蒙召是要得自由，只是不可将你们的自由当作放纵情欲的机会，总要用爱心互相服事。
14因为全律法都包在“爱人如己”这一句话之内了。
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." — Galatians 5:13
Occasionally my older siblings tease me about my desire to express my freedom as a toddler. Shedding clothes, I'd run down the street. Mom would send an older child to bring me home. Was I indulging sinful attitudes at such a young age? Maybe!
What is this freedom that Paul warns us not to misuse? Is it the freedom of basic human rights that we enjoy in Western nations? Hardly! There are people in prison as well as in other countries who enjoy the freedom Paul is talking about—it's the freedom that only the gospel brings, freedom from our slavery to sin and to legalistic moral attitudes.
The Galatians had enjoyed this freedom when they believed the gospel of Christ, but it seemed they were about to be enslaved again by sin and legalism! Freedom is precious. It's bought with the priceless blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
President Lincoln understood something about the precious value of freedom. Signing the Emancipation Proclamation to free slaves in the United States, he made sure his hand was steady before writing his name. Signing firmly, he stated, "I don't want it to look as if I hesitated."
The good news of Jesus sets people truly free. It's the freedom that brings new life and calls us to use it to serve others.
Lord Jesus, we rejoice in the freedom you won for us on the cross. Empower us to live by it in all our relationships. We pray in your name. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
