Born Free

   "But whereas the child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of the promise." Galatians 4:23
    "So brethren, we [who are born again] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free [the supernatural]." Galatians 4:31
   "In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]."  Galatians 5:1

    I love all of Galatians 4.  Paul is telling the Galatians not return to the yoke of slavery.  I use to think he was just talking about sin.  I love how scripture is alive and as we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we can reread scriptures and find a deeper meaning.  
   I now believe that Paul was teaching the Galatians something more than just not returning to sin. 
   Looking back in the middle of Galatians 4 we see in verse 17 Paul refers to Judaizing teachers, "these men".   In verse 10 we see that the Galatians have begun to "observe days and months and seasons and years".  Which is common practices in Jewish beliefs.   I believe the yoke of slavery here has more to do with taking on another's ideas or convictions or religious practices.  
     I have encountered wonderful Christians who have strong ideas and convictions about certain ways of life; homeschooling, vaccinations, birth control and more.  These things are not bad or sinful either way and yet we can place our ideas and convictions on one another as if they were. 
   What Paul is saying is that to take on another's ideas/convictions and follow them is putting on a yoke of slavery.  We are born of the free woman and we are free to follow the convictions that God gives us.   If it is not your conviction, if Christ has not placed it as a desire in your heart then why are you doing it?  My convictions are just that, mine and my husbands,( because I am married it's not just me anymore it's something "we" must agree on.  But that's another bible study:)  
     We who are born again are children of the free woman.  There is no reason for us to "put on" any yoke of slavery. 
    
   SO, my brethren, we who are born again are not children of the slave woman the natural, but of the free, the supernatural. Gal. 4:31

And whatever you do, do it readily, as to the Lord and not to men.  Colossians 3:23