HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHARON HIGGINS -
I love how my Bible says this first verse "So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get ties up again in slavery to the law."
It is up to us to stay free - with God's help, of course. So much responsibility is ours and that is why we keep having to pick up our little selves and start again. God never leaves us alone or forgets about us but is there it keep picking us up so we can succeed in the end.
These verses on circumcision are simply pointing out that we can't make ourselves right by keeping the law. In the Old Testament it was the sign of circumcision that made you part of the "family". In the New Testament it is totally a heart issue. God is looking at our Spirit and how we place our faith in Him. Vs 6b says ".....What is important is faith expressing itself in love." And vs 14 "...for the whole law can be summed up in this one command:"Love your neighbor as yourself."
A couple of weeks ago, Jerry preached on this - loving your neighbor - being kind. These verses tie our faith into this love. If we really trust in the Lord and believe in Him we will love those around us. I know I can love more than I do. And I am constantly praying that the Lord will give me compassion for those I see and talk to that don't know Him. I know that if I had that compassion that He has for us, I would have that desire to share His love with the people I meet. As I pray, I am becoming more and more aware of the people that don't know God and those that are hungry for Him.
The rest of this chapter is really good - walking by the Spirit - or letting the Holy Spirit guide your life. His Spirit in us keeps us from having the wrong desires - helps us live in freedom from sin - produces the fruit of the Spirit (of which kindness is one) - and keeps us from competing with one another or being jealous of one another.
His Spirit, if it is truly ruling our lives, changes us to be more like Jesus!!!
1 comment:
Galatians 5
Verse 1 caught my eye, too, Pastor Susan … to make sure we stay free...staying free is not a given just because we are saved. Verse 13 says we have been called to live in freedom, not to satisfy our sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. Our culture over the years and today thinks that freedom to do whatever we want is true freedom. However, freedom to live according to the flesh or the world’s way of thinking and doing only enslaves us to our own sinful nature, to others, and to Satan. We have the capacity to sin, but we have been set free from sin’s power and do not have to give in to it. There’s that “C” word again...choice.
The other verse that spoke to me is vs 6…“What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” This is not only love for others but love for God. My bible’s footnote on this verse says …”because faith expresses itself through love, you can check your love for others as a way to monitor your faith.” Now there’s some food for thought.
This is a great chapter to read often to “check our/my love life!” Which fruit am I seeing in my life...the by-products of my sinful nature (vs 19-21) or the by-products of the Holy Spirit control of my life (vs. 22-23).
P.S. Happy Birthday, Sharoni!!!
Verse 1 caught my eye, too, Pastor Susan … to make sure we stay free...staying free is not a given just because we are saved. Verse 13 says we have been called to live in freedom, not to satisfy our sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. Our culture over the years and today thinks that freedom to do whatever we want is true freedom. However, freedom to live according to the flesh or the world’s way of thinking and doing only enslaves us to our own sinful nature, to others, and to Satan. We have the capacity to sin, but we have been set free from sin’s power and do not have to give in to it. There’s that “C” word again … choice.
The other verse that spoke to me is vs 6…“What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” This is not only love for others but love for God. My bible’s footnote on this verse says …”because faith expresses itself through love, you can check your love for others as a way to monitor your faith.” Now there’s some food for thought.
This is a great chapter to read often to “check our/my love life!” Which fruit am I seeing in my life …the by-products of my sinful nature (vs 19-21) or the by-products of the Holy Spirit control of my life (vs. 22-23).
P.S. Happy Birthday, Sharoni!!!
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