Tag: Galatians 5:1
Called to Freedom!
Scripture reading for May 20th: Galatians 5
Key Scriptures: Galatians 5:13-15 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but though love serve one another. For 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.”
There was conflict in the Galatian church between the Jewish false teachers and the believers. Both sides were conceited and judgmental of one another and lacked love, a basic fruit of the Holy Spirit. Paul instructed them on those attributes that were not of God, warning them that those who practiced the works of the flesh would not inherit the kingdom of God. He encouraged them to keep in step with the Holy Spirit Who lived inside them. The Spirit’s fruit would effectively deal with the flesh and those still trying to earn righteousness through law. In fact, loving your neighbor as yourself fulfils the whole law of God! The Spirit of the Lord brings God’s love and true freedom!
Galatians 5:22-26 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; Against such things as this there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Fill me again today with Your Spirit and let love for my neighbor and for You flow out of my life in every relationship and contact, to Your glory! I want to keep step with the Spirit today and walk in the freedom of fulfilled law.
Galatians 5:1 “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
God delivers His people!
Scripture reading for January 30th: Exodus 1-3, Galatians 5
Key Scriptures: Exodus 3:7-10 “Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh. . . “
God sees everything and knows what is happening to His people. He knows their bondage and fear. He understands their suffering and the hard taskmasters of sin and the devil. He, Himself, promises that He will deliver them from the bondage and take them to a land flowing with milk and honey. His plan then was to send Moses to Pharaoh in His place and use him to bring His people out of bondage in Egypt. But Jesus Christ is God’s ultimate and final word on freedom. In Him, through faith, we have been set free forever!
Galatians 5:1 “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Faith confession and prayer: I believe in Jesus Christ, who has set me free from the bondage of sin and death! Lord, deliver me from all evil and empower me to enter the land of promise enjoying the milk of Your Word and the sweetness of Your presence with me today!
Don’t let liberty cause stumbling!
Scripture reading for August 13th: 1st Corinthians 8:1-13
“It was for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1) The Corinthians were enjoying freedom in Christ, but had more questions about how to exercise this freedom. There were many idol temples in Corinth where people sacrificed animals. This meat was often cut up and sold in the markets to make money. The Corinthians had questions about whether or not they had liberty to eat this meat.
“So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but One.” (1st Corinthians 8:4) Paul told them the truth about the idols. They were really nothing at all. God, the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ were worthy of praise. All things come from God alone. The people of the world have many ‘gods’ and seek to worship them in ignorance.
“But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” (1st Corinthians 8:7-9) The stronger believers understood that the idols were nothing. They knew that eating that meat sacrificed to idols wouldn’t pollute their faith. But the weaker believers still had fresh memories of sacrificing to idols. They felt defiled when they ate. The responsibility was placed on the stronger to limit their liberties for the sake of their weaker brothers! They were not to flaunt their knowledge because it was not loving towards their brothers!
The law of love is again used as the rule of faith and practice. Stronger Christians limit what they are free to do so that no younger or weaker believer’s faith is destroyed by their liberty! Paul went on to emphasize this, “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.” (1st Corinthians 8:13) “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (1st Corinthians 8:1b) Check out your love level today!