Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Living under the law is pretty easy, pretty cut and dried: Do this. Don’t do that. End of discussion. Living under the law of love is much more difficult. Love reacts to individual people, to where they are, to what they need. There is no cut and dried behavior, though there are certainly guidelines. Loving can be messy and contentious and just plain difficult. Following the law carries none of these challenges.
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
But God didn’t create us for mindless law abiding, for taking the easy way. He didn’t gift us with His grace to make us automatons of law. He made us wonderfully, uniquely, messily individual, and He calls us to love as He loves us: completely, wholeheartedly.
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.
Precious Lord, Thank You that You didn’t create us to be mindless slaves to the law. Forgive me that sometimes I long for the ease of law-abiding instead of the discomfort of loving. Remove my heart of stone and replace it with a heart of fierce love for You, a heart like Yours. Draw me closer. Amen.
Galatians 5:14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Have a blessed day.