Galatians 5:13-15 
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. (NLT)

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? (MSG)

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How we define and apply freedom matters infinitely. An online dictionary defines freedom this way: the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

This definition reflects the spirit of our age. Many people want to do what they want to do, how and when they want to do it, and do it without consequences or disagreement. That’s not really freedom, is it? Instead, it sounds like an exchange of addictions or escaping a net only to fall into a pit. 

God’s gift of freedom does not separate us from others so that we can do what benefits us to the exclusion of those others, but instead empowers us to use our freedom to extend God’s grace and goodness to everyone who needs it. 

Loving others the way we love ourselves is the kind of freedom that builds companionship and community. Simply satisfying ourselves may align us with a dictionary definition of freedom, but it creates estrangement from others. It sets in place barriers. It builds walls. It isolates. It harms us and others. 

The nature of true freedom is the gift of God that liberates us from being controlled by our sinful nature. Our circles of caring and influence are not drawn smaller, but bigger. We are less exclusive and more inclusive. We look out not only for our own personal needs, but also the needs of others. 

Today is Giving Tuesday. In this season when we spend big bucks on gifts, we have opportunities to give financial donations that make life better for others. That sounds more like why Jesus came than giving and expecting bigger, better gifts than last year, doesn’t it?

What does loving your neighbor as you love yourself look like for you? How does this reshape your thinking about the Christmas season and the rest of the year as well?

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I will use my God-given freedom to extend the grace I received to those who need its liberating power.

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Our Father, empower us to live lives of true freedom. May we focus more and more on what we can do for others to extend your grace and goodness. May your love overflow our lives in this season and all year long. Amen.