Last week, as my family and I were watching a movie called “Braveheart” together, I noticed that the main character, William Wallace, displayed many characteristics found in Christ.

Wallace was bold, passionate, caring and loving (well, sometimes… because other times wrathful and murderous, but that’s besides the point). He was not afraid of what other men could do to him, rather he stood up for himself and his people by going to war against England.

Later, after he defeated several large armies in battle, he was captured, tortured, and executed in front of a large crowd all because he refused to swear allegiance to King Edward. In the end, he forced one last word out of his mouth: “FREEDOM!” 

I bring the story of William Wallace up because a) it’s awesome and b) because I think Wallace displayed Christlike actions that Christians should emulate.

Look at this verse: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal 5:13). 

As Christians, we have a greater freedom than the freedom found in any nation because we were once in bondage to something far worse than any country or government. We were in bondage to sin. But because of Christ’s great sacrifice, we have the chance to truly be free. Free from our past. Free from our doubts. Free from ourselves. 

With that freedom comes a choice, which is why it’s called, well, freedom, to either use for our own “flesh” or for the glory of God.

Today, as you go about and do whatever it is that you do, I hope and pray that you decide to use your freedom for the Kingdom of God and not the Kingdom of You because “Whom the son sets free is free indeed.” (John 8:36)