Freedom of the Beloved~Galatians 5.13-15
11/24/2009 11:53:16 PM
Galatians #20 in series


 

Galatians 5:13-15 (New American Standard Bible) 13For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 15But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Good Day~

Paul writes with his customer in mind, doesn’t he?  He sees the face of someone who is taking in all of his teaching on freedom, and thinking, ‘so, if I slip a little here or there, no big deal, right?’  He sees the one given to compromise finding the loophole to excuse his attraction to sin.  While I could never be Paul, as I prayerfully consider the meaning of Scripture, and ask God to show me its application so that I may write about it, often see faces.  I think of those whose lives have been ravaged by alcoholism—their own, or their family member; I think of the one whose wife just told him she hasn’t loved him for a long time; then, there’s the ‘bread-winner’ who has just been ‘let go’ and is fearful about where he will win the next bread; I think of the minister in India who shares the Word and love of God with his fellow man at the risk of his own life. . .  Well, I believe that God’s Word is beamed right into the hearts of those who need it most, and are looking for truth and direction.

Paul backs up his instruction on freedom in Christ with the warning that our freedom should never give us license to indulge our sin nature. No, indeed!  Because we have freedom in Christ, we ought live as the loved one, always aware of He who loves us.  Relationship with Christ gives us freedom NOT to sin, and a desire to honor He who first loved us.  Perhaps these words from Henri Nouwen, will bless you as they have blessed me:   “I hear at my center words that say:  “I have called you by name, from the very beginning. You are mine and I am yours.  You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests.  I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother’s womb.  I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace.  I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate that that of a mother for her child.  I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step.  Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch.  I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will quench all your thirst.  I will not hide my face from you. . . wherever you are I will be.  Nothing will ever separate us.” From Being the Beloved

We are the beloved of Christ. Wow!

When the teachers of the Law asked Jesus which was the most important commandment, He said we are to ‘love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength’, AND ‘love our neighbor as ourself’. Our freedom in Christ is a basis for loving and serving others; and further, it prompts consideration of our own actions or ‘freedom’—so that we might not hurt our neighbor, or cause him to sin. . . and if so, we choose another course. 

So Friends, how does it feel to be ‘the beloved’?  I pray you feel set apart, and chosen, and freed to love with abandon!

Grace to you,

Christine