All Comes Down to Love

Text: Galatians 5:13-15
Theme: The purpose of our freedom is to love others and serve them.
Key verses: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (v. 13-14).
What God said to me: Look, this is clear and plain. It’s not complicated. It’s not over your head. True, there is great depth of theology in this brief passage. There is much more here than your mind can wrap around in one setting. Volumes have been written by commentators and theologians trying to excavate and appreciate Paul’s bold, insightful summation of the “entire law.” But it all comes to love. Imagine the affect on the crime rate if people truly loved one another. I’m not even asking them to love as I love. All they have to do is love others like they love themselves. Treat others in the way they want to be treated. Sounds to simple and good to be true? It is. It is simple, and it is good–but people aren’t. They turn their love inwardly. They love themselves the way they want others to love them. They’re enslaved to their sinful, selfish nature. It is not so with my followers. You have been called to be free–free to love, free to serve others, free to die to yourself.
What I said to God: Father, I know You are The Lord. Today I proclaim You again as my Lord. Thank You for Your call of freedom, and for making me free. Thank You for loving others through me. That’s the key to living out my freedom. My chains are gone. I don’t have to love others on my own. I don’t have to think of myself first and foremost. I am free to love–not just as I love myself, but as You love me!