March 3

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Galatians 5:13,14.

Paul was concerned that the Galatians, after beginning to understand their freedom from the Law, might abuse that freedom by trying to excuse their sin.  The Galatians were coming from a very strict, legalistic background.  It would be easy to misunderstand their newly found freedom and fall into a pattern of self-indulgence.  Paul is wisely giving them the antidote to sin—loving your neighbor as yourself. 

We know that Jesus summarized the Law in two parts—loving God and loving your neighbor.  Here Paul is boldly claiming, that when you love your neighbor as yourself, you are also affirming that you love God.   Think about that!  How could Paul make this statement about love without being guided by the Holy Spirit? 

The Christian, who is a new creation in Christ, is carefully designed for loving his fellow man.  The fact that he loves his neighbor is proof of his new creation.  And he cannot be a new creation without having loved and turned to God, placing his faith in Jesus. God has performed a miraculous turnabout—providing a new man who loves his neighbor the very same way that God loves him.

Heavenly Father, I am overwhelmed by Your capacity to understand us and to provide these expression of love.  We are vessels that You have designed for love, and I want only to show that to the world around me.  Thank You for making all of this possible.  Amen.

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