Read Galatians 5:1, 13 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Review
1. What has Christ done for us?
2. What are we called to do in response?
3. How are we to use our freedom?
Reflect
Throughout the week, we’ve read Paul’s concerns regarding rules that were enforced by a group of Jewish Christians on non-Jewish people in the church. This included everything from what they ate to the issue of circumcision. Paul reminded the Galatians that Christ had set them free. He urged them to not become enslaved to the law again, but instead to use their freedom to “serve one another in love.”
The world values tolerance as a chief value, but Christian faith has a much higher ethic. Love is greater than tolerance. Everyone has been clothed in Christ, made in God’s image. Therefore, we should love one another, not just tolerate each other.
Jesus didn’t merely tolerate us. He loves us and pursues us. Tolerance didn’t put Him on the cross. Love did. He shed His blood to cover and clothe us in His forgiveness, righteousness, and mercy. If we’re true followers of Jesus, we won’t just tolerate others. We’ll understand that Jesus gave His life for all – every nation, tribe, and language (Revelation 7:9). We’ll seek the good of every person we encounter by serving them in love.
Respond
• Have you fully wrapped your mind around the fact that responding to Jesus in faith makes you free? How does that change your perspective?
• Is there anything that has been keeping you enslaved to rules or laws, rather than embracing the freedom you’ve been given?
• Is there anyone you’ve been merely tolerating? How could you show them genuine love by seeking their good and/or serving them today?
Pray through these questions, and write down what God is prompting you to do next. Share with a friend, and take a step to apply it.
Want to go deeper? Visit the Traders Point app or this link to see our recommended resources for this week’s topic. If you want to catch Sunday’s message again, you can find it here.