Journal - February 24, 2022

February has been a good month. I have been encouraged by the faithfulness of God; he is in the details and knows even our smallest needs.

I recently looked into Galatians 5 with a small group. After discussing the following verses, it is pretty clear we are not to use our liberty as an excuse, but rather a motivation to love others as we love ourselves.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Galatians 5:13-18

The freedom Christ calls us to is a beautiful thing. If we are living in the Spirit, God can give us new desires and change what we find pleasure in. This selfless love is one of the fruits that will be evidence of our walk with him. Our life will naturally produce this and other good things if we are in step with the Spirit of God and abiding in him.

When life seems difficult or situations seem discouraging I can tend to find myself not resting in this liberty. Satan wants our circumstances to distract us from the freedom of serving in love. But God is greater! How much more do those who don't yet know Christ feel ensnared and in prison? If only they could get a glimpse of this grace filled freedom and choose to come into the blessings of God.

View from a hike in project a few weeks ago