使徒保罗写给早期教会的许多书信，都描绘教会经历的挣扎和困难。在他写给加拉太教会的信中，保罗指责他们被规矩和条例辖制，他们太关心遵守律法的一字一句，以至于他们那律法主义和论断主义的态度，取代了他们活出基督和分享基督之爱的愿望。保罗在信中强调，教会的生活不应该是这样的。
生命中若都是责任和要求，而我们活着只是拼命满足别人的期望，这是一个沉重的负担——尽管那些要求和期待的动机是良好的。在基督里，那复活生命的喜乐释放了我们，除去一切律法主义的重担，并甘心乐意地为神和邻舍活出爱。没有人时时刻刻都做到完美的，但有基督的灵引领我们，我们就能跟随祂的榜样，奉祂的名活出恩典和爱的生命。
在这个月接下来的几天中，我们会默想活在耶稣基督的自由中的光景。在这种自由中，神将我们从罪和死的权势下释放出来，好使我们活出祂的旨意：“基督释放了我们，叫我们得以自由。”
主啊，因着祢的怜悯，我们得了自由。这是多么美好的礼物！愿我们接受祢在基督里赐给我们的自由，也白白把这自由带给他人。因着祢的爱我们祷告，阿们。
加拉太书 5:1-6
5 基督释放了我们，叫我们得以自由，所以要站立得稳，不要再被奴仆的轭挟制。
2 我保罗告诉你们，若受割礼，基督就于你们无益了。
3 我再指着凡受割礼的人确实地说：他是欠着行全律法的债。
4 你们这要靠律法称义的，是与基督隔绝，从恩典中坠落了。
5 我们靠着圣灵，凭着信心，等候所盼望的义。
6 原来在基督耶稣里，受割礼不受割礼全无功效，唯独使人生发仁爱的信心才有功效。
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
Many of the apostle Paul’s letters to the early churches describe difficulties that the church was struggling with. In his letter to the Galatian churches, Paul rebukes them for getting caught up in rules and regulations. They were so concerned with following the letter of the law that their legalistic attitudes and judgmentalism overtook their desire to live by and share in the love of Jesus. Paul wrote this to say it was not the way life in the church was supposed to be.
Living a life of obligation and requirements and trying to live into the expectations of others is a heavy burden to bear—even if those requirements and expectations have good intentions. The joy of resurrection life in Christ frees us to live with love for God and neighbor without the burden of legalistic expectations. No one ever gets it right all of the time. But with the Spirit of Christ guiding us, we aim to live by grace and love in Jesus’ name, following his example.
In the remaining days of this month, we’ll reflect on what it looks like to live in the freedom of Jesus Christ. In this freedom we are released from the effects of sin and death so that we can live as God intends us to: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”
O Lord, your mercy has set us free. What a gift! May we accept the gift of freedom you offer us in Christ, and may we freely offer it to others as well. In the spirit of your love, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
