Author: Pete Jensen
Reading: Galatians 5:14
For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Paul is writing a letter to the Galatians. He had established the Church there earlier and now has heard that Christian Jews had come in behind him and taught that while following Christ, the people still had to follow Jewish Law. Paul reminds them about Christian Freedom found in Jesus. This is the spiritual liberty we have in Christ because we are free from the law – don’t need it for justification. We are free from Sin and Death – they no longer have any power over us. We are free to serve – to worship God and love one another.
A few verses later in chapter 5 Paul discusses the use of our freedom. He states it is not to follow the desires of the flesh, rather it is to live as God intended in the power of the Holy Spirit using the fruits of the Spirit. Jesus told his disciples that he would be sending them a helper, the Holy Spirit, who would live in each and every believer of Christ to help guide them.
Current society loves freedom. They want to be able to say and do what they want. They also want to be free from others saying anything about what they are doing. They want to be free from criticism about their actions. The freedom they are seeking is the freedom to feel comfortable about their sins and eliminate any guilt.
In our verse for today Paul states that all of the Law of Moses can be said in a single phrase – Love your neighbor as yourself. In other words, do what Jesus did. Respect others. Love others. By doing this you will be considered righteous in the eyes of God. Jesus loved by using humility, service and self-sacrifice. We are to live that way too. We hear this all over the New Testament. Love one another. Love your neighbor. Love your enemies. Turn the other cheek. The big problem we have is how do I even begin to do this?
A good parent already uses Jesus’ methods with their kids. They are humble, they serve them and they make sacrifices for them. We need to expand that school of thought to cover neighbors and coworkers and even strangers. You don’t have to invite the guy at the stoplight to come live in your house. We just need to take care of each other when we have the opportunity. Even if it is just opening the door at the grocery store for someone. Even when the person at work or school who you are not friends with needs assistance.
That doesn’t sound too hard. The best news is that you have help! The Holy Spirit lives in each of us and is there for guidance. Put your obedience in the Holy Spirit and it will allow you to see these opportunities and help you to help others.
Prayer
Lord, help us to realize what a great gift it is to have freedom in Christ! We ask for assistance in using this gift. To love one another. To love our neighbors. Turn your Holy Spirit loose in each one of us so that we can feel your power and have the courage to step forth and help another person, even if they are not a friend. Help us to live like Jesus did with humility, service and sacrifice. In Your Name we pray, Amen.