Devotion
Use Your Freedom To Love
Chipo Biti
As children of God, we have been freed from the power of sin and all strongholds of the enemy. In Christ, we live a life of freedom - free from all forms of bondage. We are no longer slaves to guilt and shame. We are free to live lives filled with joy in Christ. But Paul admonished the Galatians - and us as well - not to use our liberty to fulfill the desires of our flesh. These desires are anything that are contrary to God and what He stands for. The last thing we should want is to use our freedom to indulge in things that are against God, our Father.
Instead, we are to focus on serving one another in love. Love is the main thing that should be at the center of every gathering of believers. Love reflects the nature of God. As we love one another, in Christ, we are showing the world evidence of God's existence. Love is a rare thing in this world because of the evil that abounds in those who are under the devil's influence. When we live our love out loud, in our actions and our words, we are calling the world to attention. We are making them aware of a better life to live - a life in Christ.
All of the law that was written in the Old Testament is fulfilled in "Love your neighbor as you love yourself". The same things that you desire for yourself should be the things that you desire for other people. The love and care that you give yourself should be the love you give to others and more. When you love your neighbor you do not desire to inflict any harm on them. To do so would be to cause a great travesty.
If we treat each other maliciously, like the devil would want us to, we will end up destroying each other and the report of God. We cannot preach of God and His love if we are constantly at one another's throats. That is not the way we are supposed to live.
Prayer
We are meant to look out for one another, encourage one another, and support one another in all times and seasons. That is the love God desires us to give to one another.
Devotion
Culpability
Frances Taylor
This is an interesting passage because, among other things, it talks about sin and who is considered guilty of sin. Paul is talking about how he has been forgiven, how God has been merciful to him because his actions were committed in unbelief. In order for sin to be committed, one needs to know he is committing it. No one can commit sin in retrospect. Sin is always a deliberate act. This can be hard for some to understand. Actions can be considered sinful, even though the person committing them may not be culpable. For example, lying is a sin. However, is the two year old hiding behind the curtains sinning when he or she claims not to have broken the vase? No, because the child has no understanding of the difference between truth and lie. Those who do not have a relationship with God, who do not know the commandments, who have never heard of Jesus, may commit sinful actions, but are not guilty of sin. This is what Paul claims is his situation. Paul ...
Morning Prayer
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth.
Inspiration
When the Lord sent his only Son, he sent also his word. For his body was this very word made flesh. Importantly this was not simply a manifestation of God's word, but also rather an 'animation' of it (meant here in the original Latin as 'animare' –'to instill with life or spirit'), an instance of God's love and divine grace in action, among us.
Prayer
Lord, I am grateful for your mercy in showing us your word made flesh so that we may be redeemed. Further, I am grateful to you for showing us your love and grace through your only begotten son. Let his body not have been torn and broken for no avail, but feed us now in the Eucharist. Let not his blood have...
