Author: sgmcan

Join God’s Dance

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Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NIV).

Fourth century theologians described fellowship with God to be something like a dance composed of a sequence of choreographed steps.

God invites us to join His dance – to move in rhythm with Him. In the parlance of Galatians, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galatians 5:25 (NLT). So why not accept His invitation? Here’s how you keep in step with the Spirit:

  • Believe that everything you need to dance is already in you. When you asked forgiveness for your sin and named Christ as your Lord and Saviour, He took up residence, by the Spirit, in you (Colossians 1:28, 2:10). So don’t hold back. Your sinful nature has been crucified (Galatians 5:17, 24).
  • Give yourself fully into the Instructors hands. God must lead and you must follow. It’s not for you to direct your steps (Jeremiah 10:23). He must determine your steps (Proverbs 16:9). The moment you move more quickly, slower, or in a different direction, you’re dancing with yourself – to the beat of your own drum. Don’t do that. Move as He moves you, respond to His touch and direction.
  • Listen to the music. Heavenly music has its own beat. God’s music is not the world’s music. His music has unique melodies, harmonies and vocals. It’s beautiful – making “us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled” Galatians 5:22-23 (CEV).

Are you dancing? Don’t sit in the corner watching others move to the unforced rhythms of His grace. Move with Him. Do more than entertain the idea or feel the emotion. Step onto the dance floor and join God’s dance.

Freedom

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It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Galatians 5:1 (NIV).

What is the true meaning of freedom? Is it a right, the absence of constraints, or liberation from moral absolutes? For the Christian, it’s none of these. Freedom isn’t entitlement or self-indulgence. Nor is it a license to sin. Rather, it’s a sacred trust – a responsibility of the highest order. It’s doing what we should, and not what we want. It’s living within God’s righteous constraint and, all told, it’s something that isn’t selfish – it’s serving others with an attitude of love.

“Man is … everywhere … in chains” Rousseau. In the Galatians story the chains were legalism in the guise of circumcision. Our chains are different. We’re limited by problems, constrained by pettiness, shackled by pride, and locked into daily struggles for prosperity.

So who can set the captives free? Is there a politician, a multi-national businessman, a general of a powerful army, a philosophy, an ideology or a religion that can guarantee freedom? Is there anyone or anything that can break the shackles that constrain us? No, prisoners can’t release prisoners.

But that’s not the end of the story. While the door to freedom can’t be opened from the inside, it can be opened from the outside. There is One who holds the key to our freedom – Jesus Christ. If we want to be free, really free, then we must ask the Liberator to release us (John 8:36, Luke 4:18, Romans 8:2, Galatians 5:1).

Here’s the rub: Real freedom only exists in Christ. All “freedoms” outside of Christ, eventually turn into a new servitude. For freedom to endure; it must begin through faith in Christ, continue through obedience to Christ, and reach its greatest heights through the love of Christ. Why? Because true freedom isn’t independence, it’s interdependence with Christ.