Sisters, this freedom is a gift, and we have graciously accepted it.  We stretched out our hands and received.  We did not earn this.  Our freedom is only because of who God is.  Jesus Christ (not us) fought the battle that involved a savior, a cross, and a resurrection from the dead.  These are all things we firmly believe.  We press on because we believe that Jesus Christ is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Savior of all.  We preserve our cleared terra firma and stake it as our own.  

In Galatians, Paul is confident of freedom but fears us losing it.  He is writing to warn them and us.  The Galatians, like us, have been set free but must continually cultivate freedom.  We sustain our freedom with determination, vigilance, and much attention.

In the beginning, the free air was exhilarating.  Freedom was a new experience we greeted eagerly.  We never think or imagine that we could lose it.  We make an inner vow, “I’m never going back.”  Then we meet our first boulder-lie and trip head first into a pit of emotion.  Because this freedom road is dangerous, it’s not long before we want to stand in one spot and not move, “let’s just breathe the clean air of freedom and sing its kumbaya song.”  

When we try to walk this journey alone, our mind tricks us.  Our thoughts tell us that we need control; we miss the security of non-adventure (not living by faith).  We adore our checklists.  We miss doing nothing because vigilance is hard work.  At this point, we are beginning to sound like the Israelites wandering in the desert.  

Since moving to Egypt, human beings had dominated the Israelites’ lives.  Slavery became the norm.  In the beginning, freedom sounded terrific.  The adventure of faith heralded release—-until it got hard.  In Egypt, they always knew where they stood.  They always knew where they fit in.  The days were the same.  Maybe it was hard work, but they knew exactly how it would go.  “Do” not “Be” was their word of choice.  The more they did, the better things were.  Now they are stuck in a desert where the word is “be.”   Poor Israelites couldn’t take being dependent on a God they couldn’t see.  They liked tangible.  

Sisters, this journey of freedom is not random and by chance.  It is deliberate.  This journey we are on, it’s lifelong.  It takes effort and diligence.  It’s not always as hard as it is in the beginning.  We learn to accept our Father’s truth in place of the boulder-lies, trust that His ways are best, link arms to stay out of the pit of emotion, and learn as we go.  We banish the smooth-talking mountain lions, who try to trip us up and trick us into returning to a more leisurely life by living this way or that.  

Sisters, will we stand our ground?  It’s a decision we must make.  There are moments when the well-padded yoke of slavery looks simply appealing.  The cool shade at the bottom of the hill is more refreshing than the scorching sun on the way back up.  We must not take our freedom for granted.  We must vigorously guard it.  Every day, sisters, we take up our stance of freedom..  Here is where we contend—-we stand deliberately!