For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.” vs. 13
Galatians 5:1, 13-21
As Paul wrote to the congregations in Galatia, he reminded them of what had likely been his clarion call as he traveled to their cities and proclaimed the gospel for the first time. Over and over, he had likely said, “For freedom Christ has set you free. Stand firm and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” It took the Spirit to convince these Jewish exiles to understand that they were no longer bound by the commandments of the Law, that in Christ they had been set free. And now Paul writes to remind them that freedom is a narrow path, and that they could easily fall into the trap of self-indulgence and become slaves of the flesh. We still struggle to walk that narrow path, with some falling into old legalisms like pietism, tradition, and excessive religiosity, while others dive into one or another of the cultural pleasure pits that line the paths of our cyberworld. It’s not easy to walk in the way of Jesus, and sometimes we think we might need more rules and directions. But Paul reminded the Galatians that the whole Law could be summed up in “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and his words are still all the guide we need for our life in Christ.
Thought for the Day: What are my cultural boundaries?
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