Brothers and sisters:
For freedom Christ set us free;
so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters.
But do not use this freedom
as an opportunity for the flesh;
rather, serve one another through love.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement,
namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
But if you go on biting and devouring one another,
beware that you are not consumed by one another.

I say, then: live by the Spirit
and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.
For the flesh has desires against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
these are opposed to each other,
so that you may not do what you want.
But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Gal.5:1,13-18)

The Spirit is a quintessential definition of freedom. The Spirit cannot be enslaved or boxed by any material or immaterial factor. In conquering the flesh we experience the liberating force of the Spirit of God where our lives are no longer determined by the promptings of the flesh but by the pure yearnings of the spirit.

But the flesh is not just the body but rather the desires that focus on the self – the multiple shades of selfishness and self-centeredness. This would include the feelings of pride, envy, jealousy, untamed ego, all of which do not consider the good of the other. Even sometimes, the good of the other might be presented only as a way of projecting the self. Think of publicized philanthropy that is only aimed at exalting the image of the giver. There is no freedom here because one is still enslaved by the public acclaim and public image.

Today the social media creates a lot of slavery pods. We are fast losing our freedom, our happiness, joy and self-esteem to the likes and comments of the audience. Even the number of ‘Amen’ posted in response to any ‘prophetic message’ can trap us in the world of the flesh where the spirit ought to have taken the lead.

We pray. May the Holy Spirit of God instruct us in the secret place, tend our petty selves with the satisfaction that can only come from God, so that our freedom would never be exchanged for any yoke of slavery in whatever form. Help us by your grace, Lord.