Audio Download

Numbers 35:1-34 Cities for Levites and Cities for Refuge

[Study Aired January 8, 2024]

Introduction

Today’s study of Numbers chapter 35 looks at the Lord’s command for the people of Israel to give the Levites, out of their inheritance, cities to dwell in and also to designate some of the cities as cities of refuge. This was dependent on the people of Israel overcoming the various tribes living in the land of Canaan.

In order to understand the spiritual interpretation of this chapter, we need to look at what cities and cities of refuge represent. Cities represent places where we live and raise our families. In the Bible, we know that we all live in Christ. 

Act 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

The Bible therefore uses a city to represent the church of Christ. A good city symbolizes the assembly of the elect, and a bad city represents Babylon or the physical churches of this world who have strayed from the Lord’s ways. Here are examples of a good city and a bad city as used in the Bible:

Isa 1:21  How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. 
Isa 1:22  Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: 
Isa 1:23  Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. 
Isa 1:24  Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
Isa 1:25  And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
Isa 1:26  And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
Isa 1:27  Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. 

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

Rev 17:18  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 
Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

The cities of refuge represent our Lord Jesus Christ as it is in Him that we are kept safe from the evil one who seeks to destroy us. 

Psa 46:7  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psa 9:9  The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 
Psa 9:10  And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 

Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Towns for the Levites

Num 35:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 
Num 35:2  Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.
Num 35:3  And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.

The suburbs in verses 2 and 3 means pasturelands. These verses are to show us the Lord’s provision for His people. The Levites in this case represent the chosen people of God’s house. While we were still in Babylon or the churches of this world, signified by Moses and the people of Israel in the plains of Moab, as the spirit of the Lord was stirring us to leave, the Lord had already provided for us a place to dwell where there are abundant pastures for us to grow in Him. The word “Israel” means He will rule as God. In other words, it is the Lord who does everything through the people of Israel. Therefore, the children of Israel represent our Lord Jesus Christ who, through His victory on the cross, gave to His elect cities to dwell and pasturelands to feed on His words when He gave birth to the church.

Psa 100:1  A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 
Psa 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 
Psa 100:3  Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

We are not brought into the church of the firstborn to hunger and thirst after the word of the Lord. The Lord has also provided us with pasturelands in the assembly of His elect (cities to dwell), where just like sheep, we feed on the word of the Lord with what every joint supplies. That is where we grow in spiritual stature such that we are no longer tossed to and fro or carried about with every wind of doctrine. 

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

In verse 3, we can see the Lord’s provision of pasturelands for all kinds of beasts. As we are aware, we are beasts before the Lord, thus confirming the Lord’s provision for us to be fed with His words.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Psa 73:22  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 

Eze 34:14  I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. 
Eze 34:15  I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. 
Eze 34:16  I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. 
Eze 34:17  And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.

Num 35:4  And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.
Num 35:5  And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities. 

The pasturelands that the Lord has provided in the midst of His children have dimensions of two thousand cubits in every direction. This implies that the provision of the Lord for us to be fed by what every joint supplies is to bring us to grow to become witnesses of Christ, as the number two signifies a witness.

2Co 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

When the Lord was departing from His disciples physically, He gave them the promise to wait for the Holy Spirit which would come and make them witnesses of Christ.

Act 1:4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Cities of Refuge

Num 35:6  And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. 
Num 35:7  So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. 
Num 35:8  And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.

About six of the cities which were to be given to the Levites were to be designated as cities for refuge. This was for the purpose of protecting those who flee to these cities because they had mistakenly murdered someone. As indicated in the word of the Lord, we see that our refuge is in Christ. The number six refers to man. On a negative note, therefore, these six cities of refuge represent the church of Christ dominated by man’s wisdom instead of Christ. These six cities of refuge therefore represent Babylon. After we left the world or Egypt, we came to Babylon where we had taken refuge in Christ as we had a murder charge on our heads as we unknowingly assisted in the death of Christ and His elect. These verses below show how we were all guilty of murder when we came to Babylon.

Luk 11:49  Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 
Luk 11:50  That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 
Luk 11:51  From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

In verse 6, the number of cities to be given to the Levites was 48. The number forty-eight signifies the whole of the elect of every generation who are given a new beginning in Christ. In verse 8, the Lord establishes a principle that those who have many shall give many and those who have few shall give few. This principle is in line with the parable of the talents where the person with five talents was able to get or produce five more talents. The same goes for the one with two talents. However, the one with a talent was not able to give back a talent.

Mat 25:14  For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 
Mat 25:15  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 
Mat 25:16  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 
Mat 25:17  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 
Mat 25:18  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

This principle also implies that the little truth that is given to our brothers and sisters in Babylon shall be taken away and given to the Lord’s elect.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Num 35:9  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 35:10  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 
Num 35:11  Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.
Num 35:12  And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
Num 35:13  And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.
Num 35:14  Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.
Num 35:15  These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.

As indicated, these cities of refuge represent our Lord Jesus Christ in whom we have taken refuge. These cities of refuge were safe places for those who had unintentionally committed murder and were being pursued by an avenger to put them to death. As we said earlier, we are the murderers. How did we become unintentional murderers of the Lord’s elect?  When we hate them because of what they say we are murderers. In the new covenant, hating our brother or sister is regarded as murder. We are therefore murderers who need to take refuge in Christ (cities of refuge) to escape from the devil (the avenger) who seeks to put us to death spiritually. 

1Jn 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 

Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

As our Lord Jesus said, in this world we shall have tribulations, which makes it imperative to have a refuge apart from our sin of being murderers of our Lord Jesus Christ and His prophets. The things we go through in this life are very stressful, and unless we take refuge in Christ, we shall be meat for the devil. For example, David went through heart-breaking and stressful circumstances in his life but was sustained because he took refuge in Christ. His example is for our admonition that we must run to take hold of Christ, who is our city of refuge (positive application)!!

1Sa 30:4  Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
1Sa 30:5  And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
1Sa 30:6  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Num 35:16  And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 
Num 35:17  And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 
Num 35:18  Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 
Num 35:19  The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. 
Num 35:20  But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die; 
Num 35:21  Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him. 

As we are aware, the Law of the Spirit of life which sets us free from the Law of Sin and Death (the Law of Moses) is of higher standards in every aspect. We do not need to physically commit physical adultery or fornication before we become guilty of adultery. Just looking lustfully at a woman makes one guilty of fornication or adultery under the Law of the Spirit of Life.  In a similar vein, just being angry with a brother or sister can make one liable of murder as shown in these verses below.

Mat 5:21  “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’
Mat 5:22  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 
Mat 5:23  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 
Mat 5:24  leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 

With this in mind, verses 16–21 above, which show us the list of cases where the murder charge was appropriate, as all the culprits here deserve death sentences, are all indications of the guilty verdict of our old man or the flesh which must of necessity die.  The slayer or the revenger of blood in these verses represents the devil who aids in the death of our old man. The devil therefore plays a role in our salvation. That is why Apostle Jude said that those who do not know Christ well tend to blaspheme everything that they do not understand about its spiritual significance including insulting the devil.

Jud 1:8  Yet in like manner these people also (those who do not Christ), relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
Jud 1:9  But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
Jud 1:10  But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. (ESV)

The Lord has shown us in His word the role the devil has as follows:

Isa 54:16  Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager (the devil) to destroy (our old man); 
Isa 54:17  no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”

As stated, the Law of the Spirit of Life has far higher standards than the Law of Sin and Death, that is, the Law of Moses.  You may wonder then; how would we be saved then with such high standards which we cannot attain? We must realize that it is the Lord’s work to start with us and to complete what He started. Of ourselves, we can do nothing.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Secondly, we must realize that salvation is a process. While we live here on earth in this tent of flesh, we cannot be perfected. We may make mistakes but as we grow in the things of God, such mistakes become more rare. It is after death that we are perfected, just as the Lord Jesus was perfected when He rose from death. 

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

One will say that since we cannot be perfected, then we can continue to make mistakes. As shown in the last study concerning the boundaries of the kingdom of God within us, the kingdom of God is confined within the boundaries of the flesh. This implies that if we do not take care, we can easily drift toward being dominated by the flesh and as a result, lose all that we have achieved spiritually.  This is the Lord’s warning for our admonition:

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 
Heb 6:8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Num 35:22  But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him anything without laying of wait, 
Num 35:23  Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm: 
Num 35:24  Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments: 

These verses show us that it is the intent of the heart which matters and not the action which results. In these verses, although the person has committed murder, the fact that it was not intentional means that the person does not face a death sentence immediately and that there must be a congregation to judge on the matter. These provisions show us that even within the Law of Moses, there were provisions that point to the intent of the heart which directs us to the Law of the Spirit of Life. Jesus’ coming was to bring in this Law of the Spirit of Life.

Heb 9:8  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle (with its law of Moses) was yet standing: 
Heb 9:9  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 
Heb 9:10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Num 35:25  And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

To understand this verse, we need to see the city of refuge in a negative sense. It is stated that the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood and restore him to the city of his refuge. This shows us the role that the church (Babylon) plays in our walk with the Lord. Through the churches of this world, we are delivered from the devil (the revenger of blood) when we flee from the world to be given hope in the Lord as our refuge. During our time in Babylon, we end up crucifying the Lord again and putting Him to open shame, that is, putting Christ our High Priest to death. However, it is when we see Christ within us being put to death signified by the death of the High Priest, that we get out of our city of refuge (Babylon) and become free to worship the Lord. 

Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Num 35:26  But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; 
Num 35:27  And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: 
Num 35:28  Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession. 
Num 35:29  So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

On a positive note, coming into the city of refuge represents coming to hide in Christ our King as our stronghold or tower. It is in Him that we lay hold of the hope that is set before us.

Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 
Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

In verses 26-27, we are warned that if we leave our city of refuge or Christ, we become mincemeat for the devil. This means that we shall end up becoming spiritually dead. It is when Christ within us is put to death through the doctrines that we imbibe in Babylon that we have to leave to become spiritually free to worship the Lord in truth and in spirit. 

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Num 35:30  Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. 

In verse 30, we are being taught the principle of having two or more witnesses before a thing is established. One witness is not sufficient testimony to establish the matter. What this implies is that no Bible verse has its own interpretation. We need other witnesses in the Bible to establish what the Spirit is saying to us.

2Pe 1:20  knowing this first, that every prophecy of Scripture did not come into being of its own interpretation; 

2Co 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 

Num 35:31  Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. 
Num 35:32  And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. 
Num 35:33  So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. 
Num 35:34  Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel. 

The King James version of verse 31 which we just read did not bring out clearly what the verse means. In other versions of the Bible, we are told the following:

Num 35:31  Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. 
Num 35:32  And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. (ESV)

Our old man or our flesh who belongs to the devil, the murderer, must surely be put to death. There is no ransom for the flesh. It was made of dust, and to dust it must return.  In verse 32, there is no ransom for those who have fled to a city of refuge. If we come to Christ as our refuge, and we continue to sin, there is no ransom since Christ has already been sacrificed. 

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 
Heb 6:5  and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 
Heb 6:6  and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

In verse 33 and 34, we are told not to pollute the land that we dwell in by committing murder since blood pollutes the land. The land refers to our bodies. We are therefore not to fill our hearts with hatred for our brothers and sisters as hatred is regarded as murder according to the Law of the Spirit of Life. We are to love our brothers and sisters, even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for us. In relation to Christ, love to us means obedience. In our relationship with one another as brothers and sisters, love means that we serve one another. 

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Gal 5:13  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.

May the Lord help us as we take refuge in Him to lay hold of the hope set before us. Amen!!