Today the reading has us continuing in the letters of Paul, specifically Galatians. After 14 days of reading it almost seems justified that we would be reading a letter that has the subject of legalism in the context of faith. I am sure in one sense the reading, as a habit, is becoming a bit challenging. On the other hand, the joy of accomplishment and learning is also a blessing as we persevere. I pray that you are keeping up and not getting discouraged. Like someone has said somewhere, “The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places.” Let’s hang in there and not park the bus! Okay?
As mentioned, today’s reading covered the letter of Paul to the churches in Galatia. This was an ancient region in what is today, modern Turkey. Paul had been there before and was trying to respond to the influence of some who had gone to that region and were teaching that the believers there had to do the requirements of the Law to be in good standing with God.
This is what I got from my reading today.
Freedom! In Christ, we have been set free. In fact, according to Paul, this is the reason that Christ has done what He has done. He set us free to live free from the burden of sin, from the burden of law, from the burden of tradition and from the burden of man made religion. Freedom!
But this freedom is not license. It is not a blank check to act out in any way one may feel. In fact, it is in our text today that Paul balances our freedom to serve one another humbly in love against our freedom to indulge the flesh (our own carnal desires). He delivers the admonishment that if they do the latter, they will “devour” one another and be destroyed by that spirit delivered by their own hands.
The church in any era has always fought the tendency to legalism. After once coming to a saving knowledge of God through faith, we tend to ask the basic question, “Now what do I do?” We see the wonder of God’s love stretched out on the cross for each of us and respond. Indeed, that is how we first come to a faith stance, at the cross, acknowledging our lack, seeking His solution over and against anything we might present to get us out of that predicament. Then we look around and wonder where we go from there.
It is then, that well meaning and, unfortunately, misinformed “encouragers” can come to us to help us answer that question. We may hear things like we have to have the right kind of Bible, or the right kind of clothing, or the right kind of speech (especially King James Version while praying out loud), or the right kind of giving (tithing), or the right kind of music (hymns versus anything else), or the right kind of preaching (exegetical versus topical), or the right kind of preacher (evangelist versus teacher versus pastor) or the right kind of anything that does not conform to what the encourager deems is right. Paul confronts this with truth that if we are living our lives by the Spirit of God, that we will not find ourselves falling into that trap. He says, “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
So what does that mean?
As far as I can tell by Paul’s delineation of the fruit of the Spirit, it is living our lives with the qualities of a forgiving and selfless heart, focused on expressing the attributes that God has given to His children, His new creation, as we love, with joy, and peace, with forbearance toward each other and kindness, goodness, faithfully acting out gently and under control. In other words, it is being good to ourselves and to others. No law contravenes this form of living. None!
It is not the doing of stuff (legalism); rather is it the living out a quality of life that only God can give through His empowering Spirit. It is a form of conduct that no legalistic action could ever make better. It is the sweet aroma of blessing toward God, by which He will respond, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
My prayer is that the church will see this blessing over any form of overt or subtle legalism. To the glory of God!
Until tomorrow. Blessings!
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