Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 3Sample

We are on this journey of reading through the Bible, and today we are focusing on Galatians chapter 5. Paul starts off by making the following statement: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”. He then goes on to ask us why some of us have gone back to claiming our own redemption by putting the focus on the law.

The only thing that counts is faith finding its expression through love. You and I have been called to be free, but Paul makes it clear that this freedom is not there so that we can indulge in the pleasures of the flesh but so that we can rather serve each other humbly in love.

This serving of others can only be done through a daily walk with the Holy Spirit. Paul makes it clear what it looks like to walk in the flesh: "sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like."

But he then goes on to give us this well-known piece of scripture in the Bible in Galatians 5:22-25: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

Paul takes the sting out of the law and places our focus on living a life of faith through the Holy Spirit and knowing that Jesus has paid the price of our freedom.

Here are two questions to consider:
1. How does living a life of freedom look in my everyday walk with God?
2. Have I fully surrendered my life to the knowledge of what Jesus has done for me?