Love God Greatly - Made for CommunitySample

Paul writes this letter to the churches established in the region of Galatia. They were faced with an insidious spiritual attack on their Christian faith in which false prophets and teachers had convinced many to intermingle the Mosaic Law with faith in Christ. The churches in Galatia did believe that salvation was of Jesus, but they also began to believe that works were also necessary for salvation. Their hearts had become hardened to the grace, mercy, and forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ, because they believed that they had earned their salvation by following the rules and ordinances of the Law. Paul writes this letter to correct this impure doctrine and remind them of the true source of their salvation.

In our reading today, Paul writes at the end of this letter about the new life that believers are to demonstrate in Christ. Because of Jesus’ grace and mercy and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the outward life of a believer should reflect the inward change. Paul tells them that they are to show compassion and restoration to those in Christ when they stumble. They are to share their burdens with one another and bear each other’s burdens. They are to soberly assess their service to God, ensuring that service is performed with the correct motive. They are to support and share with those who instruct and teach them true spiritual doctrine. They are to be good stewards of the resources and gifts that God had blessed each of them with. Finally, they are to do good for people, but especially to those who are in God's family.

Many people today can fall into the same temptation as the churches of Galatia by adding works to the gift of grace. We can subconsciously use a spiritual checklist to gauge our spiritual maturity and use that to level comparisons against others. It is great to have spiritual goals and daily spiritual exercises in faith, but we must always remain on guard against Satan tempting us to become prideful in those deeds or to become discouraged because of the lack of those deeds.

Our spiritual exercises, spiritual growth, and spiritual maturity are not meant for ourselves, but for the edification and expansion of the body of Christ and for the encouragement and uplifting of others. Spiritual power comes only from God, not from our desire or from our effort. So believers must fully surrender to God so that He can direct and wield the power as He chooses.

Have you lost the freedom and joy of communicating and serving God? Does relationship feel more like a burden than a privilege? Perhaps, like the members of the churches of Galatia, you have subconsciously placed yourself back in bondage by creating legalistic rules or goals. Remember Jesus’ promise that His yoke is easy and His burden light. When we release the burden we have set on ourselves, He will adjust our yoke to fit us perfectly for the purpose with which we were created.

PRAYER: Father God, You are our gracious Provider who gives generously to Your children. Lord, help us to be good stewards of the resources You bless us with. Empower us to pour out Your grace and mercy to those around us. Lord, remove any self-imposed efforts to earn Your approval and love. Remind us that Your love is a gift, unending and never failing, that we can pour out generously to others knowing that You will continually replenish. In Jesus’ name. Amen.