April 22, 2015 – Galatians 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. Galatians 5:13Eons ago, I asked my sixth grade class to write about freedom.  Most of their themes eliminated rules as the way to freedom….rules in the hallway, in the lunch room and the classroom would be eliminated.  This would be freedom to them.  They didn’t understand that like fences — rules and limits protect.Freedom is to die for.  Ask the man who hid in the wheel casing of an airplane during a flight, trying to escape slavery in his country.  Ask the soldier who died for you and me, trying to protect us from those who do not live by rules.  Ask those who migrated to United States for the freedom of worship.For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1.  Why is God love?  Why did Jesus love us so much that he died on the cross?  What is this freedom that Jesus gives us?  Freedom from slavery and corruption.  Freedom to love and escape the burden of hate and bitterness and envy.Imagine a relationship with Jesus without judgement.  Imagine a relationship with children without anger.  Imagine a relationship with a spouse with honor.  Love is powerful and can heal the sinful, the rebellious and the angry souls.    It is honoring the others and forgiving.  It takes strength to honor and love.  It takes Jesus.This quote puts loving others in perspective —Whenever you tell Jesus to fix someone else’s life to your satisfaction, Jesus will always start with you!  “Judge not that you be not judged.”  Descriptive language in Galatians 5 — to bite and devour one another.  Sounds like animal behavior.  We rationalize our behaviors our thoughts, and become blind to our faults.  Loving others is being blind to their faults.  Forgiveness is a healing action.Lord, I pray that you help me see others through the eyes of Jesus.  Help me to be more like Jesus in every way.  In You, and you alone, I find the freedom of love and loving that is a balm to my soul.  In Jesus’ Name, AmenFor the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Galatians 5:14-15