His Love Shocked Freedom
'It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just
make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever
you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to
serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we
know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as
you love yourself. That’s an act of true
freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all
you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious
freedom be then?' Galatians 5:13-15 (MSG)
It is perfectly clear to me that we are living in the period of grace. How shocking to see how the story goes from the days of old. Moses giving us the Ten Commandments and the Law and the Prophets taking it to six hundred and thirteen, as if ten were not the perfect number. Then David came and reduced the number to eleven. Then Isaiah came and reduced it by five. Then Micah came and reduced it to three. Then Isaiah came and reduced it to two. Then Amos came and reduced it to one. Then Jesus and the apostles came and reduced it to Love. Shocking how Love does that. Love and faith in people. Love and trust in one another. God loves us. God trusts us. Now it's our turn.
In comprehending the law defined by Love, the shear simplicity of it is what makes it so shocking. We could not possibly obey the 613, but possibly the One! God has made a way for us. God, through His Word has called us to freedom. Yet, we are not free to sin for this will destroy that freedom. We are to love others as we love ourselves. This is what makes our freedom grow. Do you trust yourself? Then trust others. Do you make sure that you have enough to eat? Then feed others. Do you take care of your own needs? Then care for the needs of others. Do you love yourself? Then love others. No one has to write down a rule that says we are to do these things. We just need faith and enough Love for the Word to obey.
We obey the Word for we know that God loved us and that He sent His beloved Son Jesus to fulfill the Law through Himself for us. We could never find justification of the Law by our good works alone, but we could find it in Love. Because He loved us, it is only by the Grace of God and through Christ that we are justified and made right. Jesus, what a beautiful name. Thank you for loving me and calling me free.
It is perfectly clear to me that we are living in the period of grace. How shocking to see how the story goes from the days of old. Moses giving us the Ten Commandments and the Law and the Prophets taking it to six hundred and thirteen, as if ten were not the perfect number. Then David came and reduced the number to eleven. Then Isaiah came and reduced it by five. Then Micah came and reduced it to three. Then Isaiah came and reduced it to two. Then Amos came and reduced it to one. Then Jesus and the apostles came and reduced it to Love. Shocking how Love does that. Love and faith in people. Love and trust in one another. God loves us. God trusts us. Now it's our turn.
In comprehending the law defined by Love, the shear simplicity of it is what makes it so shocking. We could not possibly obey the 613, but possibly the One! God has made a way for us. God, through His Word has called us to freedom. Yet, we are not free to sin for this will destroy that freedom. We are to love others as we love ourselves. This is what makes our freedom grow. Do you trust yourself? Then trust others. Do you make sure that you have enough to eat? Then feed others. Do you take care of your own needs? Then care for the needs of others. Do you love yourself? Then love others. No one has to write down a rule that says we are to do these things. We just need faith and enough Love for the Word to obey.
We obey the Word for we know that God loved us and that He sent His beloved Son Jesus to fulfill the Law through Himself for us. We could never find justification of the Law by our good works alone, but we could find it in Love. Because He loved us, it is only by the Grace of God and through Christ that we are justified and made right. Jesus, what a beautiful name. Thank you for loving me and calling me free.
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