God calls us to be disciples of Jesus, building community through
service and fellowship and sharing the love of Christ with all.
“The United Methodist Church of Westford is an open and welcoming community of Christian
Faith. Without any exceptions, we welcome anyone who seeks to love and to serve God.” Learn More
What does it actually mean to live free? That’s the question Paul wrestles with in Galatians 5. “For freedom Christ has set us free,” he writes—not just a catchy phrase, but a radical truth. But then Paul quickly adds, “Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.” So which is it? Are we free—or bound?
Here’s the paradox: in Christ, we are freed from the things that used to bind us—fear, shame, the need to prove ourselves—and we are freed for a new kind of life. A life that doesn’t revolve around our own desires, but is rooted in the Spirit, shaped by love, and connected to community.
Paul offers two pictures: one of a life driven by the flesh—self-interest, division, envy, unchecked appetites. The other is a life cultivated by the Spirit—bearing fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The fruit of the Spirit isn’t a list of achievements; it’s what grows naturally when we walk with God. Not forced, not frantic—but slowly grown.
So the question we’re sitting with this week is this: What kind of fruit is showing up in our lives? Are we clinging to freedom as a personal possession—or are we living as people set free to love?
This Sunday, we’ll explore how true freedom isn’t about doing whatever we want—it’s about becoming the kind of people in whom the Spirit can grow something good. Let’s loosen our grip on control, trust the Spirit’s steady work, and keep walking together—step by step, rooted in grace.