Years ago Dawson Trotman, the founder of The Navigators discipleship ministry, hiked with a group of Taiwanese pastors back into some mountain villages to minister the Word of God to the groups of Christians there. The trails were wet so Dawson and the Taiwanese pastors returned home with there shoes cold, wet, and covered in mud. Much later someone asked one of those Taiwanese pastors what they remembered about the American Dawson Trotman. The Taiwanese pastor replied, “He cleaned by shoes.”
When Dawson and that pastor returned that afternoon, all the men removed their muddy shoes at the doorway. The pastor went into the kitchen to prepare some tea and returned to the doorway to find Dawson Trotman sitting on the floor with a small stick, a piece of cloth, and some water cleaning the muddy shoes of the Taiwanese pastor.
That spirit of servanthood was a constant mark of Dawson Trotman. He died as he lived: giving his life to rescue someone else from drowning.[1]
As believers we too are called to a life of service. Often we claim the freedom we have in Christ and neglect the love and service to others part. In Paul’s letter to the believers in the region of Galatia, he challenges the Galatian believers to a life of service and love because of the freedom they have in Christ.
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. (Galatians 5:13-15)
According to Paul, our freedom leads to service in love. Notice he identifies who has freedom.“For you were called to freedom, brethren” (v. 13a). This freedom is where we all belong (see Galatians 1:6; 5:8). It is in the passive voice here which means we receive it, but God does it. God called us to salvation. And because of that we are supposed to live in freedom. Our address is 810 Freedom in Christ Ln.
Notice also that Paul warns them about that freedom and defines the boundary of that freedom, “do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh” (13b). That liberty given through our faith in Christ should not turn into a license to sin and do whatever we want.
Notice also he tells us what to do with our freedom. The focus for us is “through love serve one another” (v. 13b). When we are free and live a life of love and service, it keeps us from legalism and license. This is because when we love others and serve them through that love, we are freed from the focus on ourselves.
I wonder what our Christian churches would look like if we, instead of proclaiming our freedom, practiced our love?
[1] Jerry Bridges, True Community (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2012), p. 137.