Live free and joyfully

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Living with joy”

Our Bible verse for today: “In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you.” Philippians 3:1 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Live free and joyfully”

Today is “Veteran’s Day” in the USA. It’s the day each year when we honor those who have ever served in the U.S. military and we thank them for their service to our great country. It’s because of their sacrifices that we enjoy the freedoms we do. So, if you have served in the armed forces, thank you for your service!

However, there is a freedom that is far greater than living in a democracy as we do. It’s the freedom that is found in Christ, and so this morning, I want to return us to our thinking from yesterday regarding the dangers of legalism as a potential joy-stealer.

Paul begins this passage by urging his readers to rejoice in the Lord. If we keep that statement in the context of what he writes here about the dangers of legalism, we realize that he is urging us to find our joy in Jesus alone and not in extreme acts of religious rituals like he is about to describe in the upcoming verses. He even goes on in this verse to remind them that he has written to them about this previously and he says that doing so (writing about it again), is for their protection. Obviously, Paul considered legalism to be a supreme danger and a guaranteed joy-stealer and therefore he wanted to circle back and address the issue again.

In all his letters when Paul warned about the dangers of legalism, he was almost always referring to the group known as “The Judaizers.” They were Jews who were professing Christians but who were hanging onto the laws of the Pharisees as well. They taught that to be a Christian you had to observe many of the old laws of the Pharisees too. The Judaizers are always portrayed as stern, demanding, critical, uptight, and very judgmental. They do not come across as relaxed and joyful.

That tends to be true of legalism in general. The primary difference between grace and legalism is that legalism teaches there are lots of rules and regulations and acts of self-denial we must engage in to be more acceptable to God. That’s a dark and heavy way to practice your faith. There’s not a lot of joy in that.

Grace leads us to freedom in Christ and a life of joy. Grace helps us understand that because of what Jesus did for us, we are already fully pleasing and acceptable to God. We then obey Him simply because we want to. We do it out of love. And with that kind of outlook, there is a great sense of freedom and joy.

I encourage you to choose grace over legalism and then learn to live free and joyfully in Christ.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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