majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him in Galatians 5:13,
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom
to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love."
In another letter of Paul's, we are asked, (that is, commanded) to do
something that almost all Christians refuse to do. It is found in
Colossians 3:13, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances
you may have against one another." While we sing our hymns of worship:
"Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee...", etc. we
harbor resentment against brother so-and-so or sister so-and-so. They
wanted the nursery painted a different color than I did and so I
harbor an irritation or some resentment toward them. They pushed for
one music style for worship and I wanted another. "He doesn't agree
with my perspective on baptism..." Backbiting, gossip, unmet
expectations, all kinds of opportunities to hold grudges and harbor
resentment toward one another. I know it and you know it. We have seen
it in the many churches we have attended over the years. Where is the
love? We help out in the food pantry, we give toward a family who had
a house fire, we take meals to the sick and infirm, but we can't seem
to bear with each other in love and forgive grievances.
Paul tells us in that same Colossians passage, "Therefore, as God's
chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Because we
have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, we have become God's chosen
people. As such he has made us holy and he dearly loves us. As his
chosen people he has asked us to emulate him: he wants us to love one
another.
What is remarkable about this is that God has not just asked us to
love one another, and bear with one another, forgiving one another -
he has provided us freedom from our sinful natures to serve one
another in this way. Where we were once incapable of loving one
another, our wonderful heavenly Father has freed us to do so. How
wonderful he has provided us this. What our experience tells us is
that although God has enabled us to love one another, bear with one
another, forgive one another, he isn't going to do it for us. It is a
choice each of us makes. Ignoring the wonderful freedom he has
provided us to do so just won't do.
How wonderful God has freed us to love one another. living in a
community marked by love has to be the very best to live in. Hopefully
more will embrace the freedom God has given each one of us to serve
one another in this way.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd
love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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