Weekly Devotional - Raquel Simmons
Image of God
I’ve been blessed to have had a life before Christ, what I like to call BC, and after Christ, AC. I use the word blessed because I’ve not always viewed it that way. With becoming a believer at 23, I felt “behind,” and like I was “late to the party.” Now, at 35, I am grateful and consider it a blessing that I became a believer in my 20s because I’ve had two POVs of the world. I believe that God knew I would need to have both perspectives since I’m a tad strong willed. I’m one of those that is told, “don’t put your hand on the stove, it’s hot” and then proceeds to have put my hand on the stove just to find out if it is indeed actually hot. I have experienced a life that was focused so much on myself and my “image” for over two decades, and I am now living a life focused on Jesus - free of the weight of trying to fit society’s “image” and instead be the image of God. We hear and say that all the time, but what does it actually mean?
“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. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:13-16
God gave boundaries (the laws) to protect us. Without boundaries, we tend to gravitate towards things that are harmful to us. But boundaries doesn’t sound like freedom or even much fun. So how exactly are we called to be “free” as mentioned in Galatians 5? Let’s look at Adam and Eve as our example. They had complete freedom to partake of anything in the Garden, but God said “do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Genesis 2:16-17. When they ate from the forbidden tree, they became their own “god” by choosing what they desired in the moment over being obedient to what God commanded. Unfortunately, we still do this today. But, the good news is there is hope! We are not alone in this constant spiritual fight, flesh vs. Spirit, that we encounter daily. Since we are made in the image of God, we have access to the fruits of His Spirit that guide us to the path of life and freedom, where we are not slaves to our own desires!
“… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:22-24
The tempter will always be temptin’! But despite the temptation we face, we can trust that God will not abandon us in the fight. In God’s infinite love for us, He provided a way for us to overcome, by walking with Him daily. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16.
I’ve lived a life where I thought I was “free” and focused only on what I desired and what best served me. All that ever left me was depressed, lonely, confused, and lost. Living life with Jesus and learning what it means to be a child of God; serving humbly, loving people, sacrificing my time and money for the good of others, that’s where I’ve found true freedom. Freedom from the burdens. I’ve found life and life abundant!
How can you use your freedom in Christ to show love or serve someone this week?
Raquel Simmons
I’ve been blessed to have had a life before Christ, what I like to call BC, and after Christ, AC. I use the word blessed because I’ve not always viewed it that way. With becoming a believer at 23, I felt “behind,” and like I was “late to the party.” Now, at 35, I am grateful and consider it a blessing that I became a believer in my 20s because I’ve had two POVs of the world. I believe that God knew I would need to have both perspectives since I’m a tad strong willed. I’m one of those that is told, “don’t put your hand on the stove, it’s hot” and then proceeds to have put my hand on the stove just to find out if it is indeed actually hot. I have experienced a life that was focused so much on myself and my “image” for over two decades, and I am now living a life focused on Jesus - free of the weight of trying to fit society’s “image” and instead be the image of God. We hear and say that all the time, but what does it actually mean?
“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. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:13-16
God gave boundaries (the laws) to protect us. Without boundaries, we tend to gravitate towards things that are harmful to us. But boundaries doesn’t sound like freedom or even much fun. So how exactly are we called to be “free” as mentioned in Galatians 5? Let’s look at Adam and Eve as our example. They had complete freedom to partake of anything in the Garden, but God said “do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Genesis 2:16-17. When they ate from the forbidden tree, they became their own “god” by choosing what they desired in the moment over being obedient to what God commanded. Unfortunately, we still do this today. But, the good news is there is hope! We are not alone in this constant spiritual fight, flesh vs. Spirit, that we encounter daily. Since we are made in the image of God, we have access to the fruits of His Spirit that guide us to the path of life and freedom, where we are not slaves to our own desires!
“… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:22-24
The tempter will always be temptin’! But despite the temptation we face, we can trust that God will not abandon us in the fight. In God’s infinite love for us, He provided a way for us to overcome, by walking with Him daily. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16.
I’ve lived a life where I thought I was “free” and focused only on what I desired and what best served me. All that ever left me was depressed, lonely, confused, and lost. Living life with Jesus and learning what it means to be a child of God; serving humbly, loving people, sacrificing my time and money for the good of others, that’s where I’ve found true freedom. Freedom from the burdens. I’ve found life and life abundant!
How can you use your freedom in Christ to show love or serve someone this week?
Raquel Simmons
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