Galatians 5:13


You my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love ~ Galatians 5:13

The new converts to Christianity were set free from the rites and rituals of the Mosaic Law, yet some were holding to the Law claiming one could not be a follower of the Way if one did not still lay claim to following all the “rules.” Habits can be strong! Paul is admonishing those people who held to the past. Instead, he said, “You are called to liberty, but it is not liberty for an occasion to the flesh. It is not freedom from virtuous restraints, and from the laws of God. It is liberty from the servitude of sin, and religious rites and ceremonies, not freedom from the necessary restraints of virtue.” We often mistranslate this to think that the Laws set down by God through Moses are now debunked. This is not so. The Ten Commandments, broken down into an easier format by Jesus into Two Commandments are all we need to follow, for within them are held all of life and its values. Love God, freely love God, without feeling you have to wash your hands before prayer, or take on some other form in body so that your prayer will be heard. And, there is the freedom to love your neighbour, as you love yourself! To serve and not harm, to think highly of and not depreciate, to honour and not destroy. Rituals may have their place, but they do not necessarily reflect love. Love is free.
Devotion by Pastor Julia

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