Scripture
“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. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. ‘A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.’ I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.” (Galatians 5:1-10)
Observation
Paul encourages the Galatians to choose freedom over bondage in slavery and that justification, righteousness and therefore freedom will come through faith instead of the law and circumcision. He continues that those who choose the law must carry out all of its requirements. However those who choose faith will live by the promise of Jesus Christ and His faithfulness and love. Paul notes that they were running a good and focused race. However, he questions who interfered to attempt to pull them off course? He states the fact that distraction away from faith and love is not of Christ, and therefore not to let the distractions of life and the enemy work its way into the path of righteousness and freedom like a little yeast and how it can affect a whole batch of dough.
Application
We find ourselves in a similar situation today where politics, government, and wrongful interpretation of government laws are confusing and distracting people. Much of what is changing is challenging people of faith and what we believe in with ALL of the left and liberal’s agenda. We are often being told that “white is black,” or what we believe in (life) is not what is good for society. It is a subtle and often blatant attempt to take away our freedom, faith, and righteous principles and precepts. It is well know that our nation is divided.
It is through God’s word, prayer, and calling upon the Holy Spirit that we can garner the will, wisdom, and ways of the Lord to see with eyes that see, and hear with ears that hear from the Lord. As we see and hear; that we would be intentional to stand on God’s laws rather than man’s laws, and do it uncompromisingly. We cannot get distracted, influenced or let the ways of the world seep into our moral and spiritual fabric. We need to run the race that God has set before us.
Prayer
Dear Lord, guide me and enable me to run the race that you set before me and to choose faith, love, freedom and righteousness in you over man’s law. Guide me please to navigate man’s law as one who lives in the world, but not be influenced or persuaded to be of the world.
