My morning routine usually consists of reading about (favorite blogs) and watching (favorite news outlet) national and world events, succored by the large cup of coffee in my hand. Then, as I'm doing now, I have my morning devotions and share with you via this blog.
A story that caught my eye this morning was a striking example of today's text, in action.
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14
Paul is here in verse 14 quoting Jesus, who made the Galatians 5:14 statement in Matthew 22:39. Here's the verse, with context:
36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Note that the first and second commandments are not called by Jesus "the greatest suggestions". No, they are commandments, which even supersede "the 10". That is not to say they nullify "the 10", but rather that they overshadow them. In other words, you can be keeping the 10 Commandments 100%. But, if you are not loving God with all your heart and showing that love by loving "your neighbor", you are living in disobedience.
Ok, so what was the story today? I'll link it at the bottom of the page, but basically, it was this. Two churches in east Cobb county, a wealthy suburban area outside of Atlanta, GA, sent their church busses into a very poverty-stricken area of downtown Atlanta, to pick up homeless people. For those of you reading this out of current time, or who live far from me, it was "in the teens" here overnight. These churches picked up about 100 homeless people in their busses last night, to keep them from freezing to death.
<crickets> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re72di5phM0
You see, I find today's passage very personally convicting, because I am most often focused on making my own life very comfortable. And, there's nothing wrong with taking care of one's basic needs. But, frankly, I take it far beyond the basic level, "using my freedom in Christ to indulge my flesh" - - spending most of my time and resources on my own selfish desires.
So, when I hear a story about a church that extends Christ's arms to those who are quite literally perishing, both physically and spiritually, I am prompted to a lot of self-examination. I don't usually like what I find.
Look, whether we like it or not, this is the truth of what Christ commanded us, children of God! Instead of our customary approach, which is to indulge ourselves and occasionally toss some crumbs to those who are dying, He asks us to flip the pyramid, to radically change the paradigm. What He calls us to is a life of service to others, giving ourselves (our flesh) the crumbs left over.
So, here's what I'm going to do and what I challenge you to do also. I'm going to make a change (can you hear Michael Jackson singing in the background?), a change based on what the Holy Spirit has been saying to me about this passage. This will not make me a Christian, because the Bible is plain that a person can't work oneself up into being one. I'm a Christian because of my faith in Jesus Christ. Period. What making this change will make me is (hopefully) more obedient to my Master's command. What my obedience will achieve (because obedience always achieves this) is a greater expansion of the kingdom of God, even in ways I'll never realize or see.
Father, how can I become more and more like my Savior unless I am obedient to Your Word? So often I am tone-deaf to the Holy Spirit. Lord, open my eyes and ears and hands, and not only mine, but those of your Church ... so that all may know Your love, the only love which transforms. In Jesus' name, amen.
Source:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/church-gathers-homeless-get-them-out-cold/np7MW/
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