The Pace of Freedom

Galatians 5

In the movie Gladiator, Maximus is told, “You have been freed… but do you know what to do with your freedom?” This a truism for many of us. Do we know what to do with the freedom you have been given in Christ?

That question echoes Paul’s words: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

Freedom in Christ is not vague or abstract. Jesus has freed us from sin’s penalty and power. Many of us though, drift into legalism, as if God’s love must be earned. Others drift into license, as if grace gives us permission to live for ourselves. Both are forms of slavery.

The gospel is better: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He met us at our worst, loved us without condition, and now by His Spirit He transforms us into something new.

Freedom is not the absence of restraint but the presence of love—love for God and love for neighbor. True freedom is not the ability to do whatever we want; in fact, that kind of freedom is just another form of slavery to our desires. Real freedom is the ability to choose what we were made for: to delight in God and to love others. It’s choosing what leads to gospel flourishing, not just for you, but for the people around you.

Paul writes: “Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). That’s the pace of freedom: walking step by step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), bearing fruit that looks like Jesus, love, joy, peace, patience (Galatians 5:22–23).

So today, ask: Am I walking at the Spirit’s pace? Freedom in Christ is not permission to center life on self. It is the blood-bought privilege of centering life on God, loving Him supremely and others sacrificially, that they may see in us the beauty of Christ.