Galatians 5:13 (NLT)

“You are called to live in freedom, not freedom to satisfy your own sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.”

Recently, some tribal merchants found far more than they bargained for in an African market.

In Nigeria, a team of international Christian ambassadors is working to reach different parts of the country with the Gospel. More recently, they realized the potential for a large market for the three tribes to come together and sell their wares. The Fulani (herdsmen) sell their cattle and cheese. Ibariba (farmer) sells yams, melons, and yam flour. and Yoruba people (traders from the south) who bring useful tools such as hoes, forks, machetes, bush lamps, and torchlights.

The team organized an evangelistic meeting at night, using 12 kerosene bush lamps hanging from pillars for illumination. In addition to the village chief and three city council members, many members of traditional religions also attended. Many who heard the message of “The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error” became convinced of the truth of Jesus Christ and surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. Some of them burned amulets and idols as a sign that they had completely abandoned them.

One new believer summed up his experience this way: “Religion kills and binds people, but Christ brings life and freedom… Indeed.”

What is freedom? option. choices. Responsibility to decide for ourselves. One way of expressing poverty is the lack of options or choices. When we have a choice, we are free. Religions promise believers a way to maintain the favorable attitude of the gods. Christ gives us the freedom to live in God’s love and favor and to choose to use our time, energy, talents, and resources to glorify God.

In secular societies, instead of burning amulets and idols, there are more subtle gods to abandon, such as moral relativism (all opinions are equally valid), consumerism (an obsession with acquiring possessions), and conformity to social expectations. As believers in Christ, we all need to remain alert to the effects of ungodly patterns of thought and behavior. Why not ask the Lord if your priorities are the same as His and are willing to give up anything that does not lead to freedom in Christ?

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