Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 5:6 and Galatians 5:13-15.
“6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
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13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.” Galatians 5:6 and Galatians 5:13-15.
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“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-5.
Thus, we can only love as we should love through the Spirit.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” Galatians 5:16-18.
“For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.” Romans 7:5.
“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.” Romans 7:4-6.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.
“For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Verse 14.
The whole Law is fulfilled in one word (love) in the sense that if we love our neighbor through the Spirit, we will not covet his property, nor steal from him, nor murder him etc. But, we will also do more than just not harm our neighbor. We will do good to our neighbor.
We will also please God Who calls us throughout Scripture to love our neighbor. For example, Jesus simply said: “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12.
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:9-10.
“and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,” Hebrews 10:24.
But, let us also remember the last verse of today’s Scripture. “But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.” Verse 15. As terrible as it sounds and as it is, Christians can bite and devour each other by thinking that the only way to love and serve others is through the way that they do it. Thereby, they criticize, turn others against fellow Christians, and undermine their ministries.
There are those Christians who truly love who sing and lead choirs. But, there are also those who truly love who are very quiet, working behind the scenes, to repair things and deliver food to those who need it.
There are those who preach and teach, but there are those who visit the prisoners in jail and care for the sick.
So, instead of biting and devouring each other, let us encourage each other. I am pleased to remember my mother (who died in 1996). She loved and lived to encourage others, and I seek to emulate her.
“6 Each one helps his neighbor
And says to his brother, “Be strong!”
7 So the craftsman encourages the smelter,
And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil,
Saying of the soldering, “It is good”;
And he fastens it with nails,
So that it will not totter.” Isaiah 41:6-7.
Finally, let us meditate on one well known definition of love in Scripture.
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 