Tight Circles / 围栏之中
Dexu Xia
Tight Circles
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Galatians 5:1
A classmate gave my family a registered collie that had become too old to breed puppies. We soon learned this beautiful dog had, sadly, spent much of her life inside a small pen. She would only walk in tight circles. She couldn’t fetch or run in a straight line. And even with a large yard in which to play, she thought she was fenced in.
The first Christians, many who were Jews, were used to being fenced in by the Mosaic law. Though the law was good and had been given by God to convict them of sin and lead them to Jesus (Galatians 3:19–25), it was time to live out their new faith based in God’s grace and the freedom of Christ. They hesitated. After all this time, were they really free?
We may have the same problem. Perhaps we grew up in churches with rigid rules that fenced us in. Or we were raised in permissive homes and are now desperate for the security of rules. Either way, it’s time to embrace our freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1). Jesus has freed us to obey Him out of love (John 14:21) and to “serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13). An entire field of joy and love is open for those who realize “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Reflect & Pray
How have you been kept from experiencing freedom in Christ? How can realizing this freedom help you serve others?
Jesus, help me to believe I am as free as You say.
围栏之中
基督释放了我们，叫我们得以自由。-加拉太书5章1节
有位同学送给我们一只繁殖犬，那是一只因年老而无法继续生育的纯种柯利牧羊犬。不久后，我们发现这只美丽的牧羊犬先前大部分的时间，都是很可怜地被关在围栏内，以致它只会绕行小小的圈子，不会玩抛接游戏，也不会跑直线。即使是在大院子里面玩，它还是以为自己仍受围栏的约束。
初代教会时期的基督徒以犹太人居多，长久以来都受到摩西律法的约束。虽然律法是好的，也是上帝所颁布的，为要使人知罪，好引导人归向基督（加拉太书3章19-25节）。但他们既领受上帝的恩典，得着基督所赐的自由，就应该活出新生命，不再靠遵行律法而称义。然而，他们却犹豫不决。他们真的得着自由，不再受律法的约束了吗？
或许，我们也遇到相同的问题。有些人也许是成长于严守规条的教会，受到诸多限制。有些人却是在毫无纪律的家庭中长大，迫切需要订立规则才有安全感。但无论何种情况，我们都应该活出在基督里的自由（加拉太书5章1节）。因为耶稣已释放了我们，叫我们可以因为爱祂而遵守祂的命令（约翰福音14章21节），且“用爱心互相服事”（加拉太书5章13节）。我们若深信天父的儿子叫我们自由，我们就真自由了（约翰福音8章36节），从此不再受律法的约束，可以进入充满爱与喜乐的广阔之地！
主，求祢帮助我相信，我已经得自由了！
你为何无法经历到在基督里的自由？
明白你不受律法约束，对你的服事有何帮助