Journey: Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.                 [Galatians 5:13-15]

These verses have been profoundly influencing for me.  If you’re wondering about the name of this blog, it’s in these verses.  It’s my ambition to live out these verses, to Journey5.13.  Okay so let’s get on with it.

Each verse deserves the context of the others, and ultimately the context of the entire chapter, even letter (I highly recommend you go read it, like now).

Freedom from what?

            We’re called into freedom.  Freedom for freedom’s sake [see Galatians 5:1].  You were meant to live a life of freedom.  Whatever binds you, weighs on you, holds you back, Christ has set us free from those chains!  [see Hebrews 12:1-2]

            We’re called into freedom from being in competition with each other.  If this sounds stupid or too radical for you, think about it more.  If you bite and devour one another, if you only compete with one another, you will be consumed by one another.  We don’t need to compete because the ultimate victory has already been given to us!  Live a life of love and service, and you will find the freedom in that.  Try it for a week and you’ll believe.

            Competition is so ingrained in our culture that it’s hard to see how we may exist without it.  We compete in sports, for jobs, for affections, for many things.  We pour ourselves out in competition and we either win or lose.  If we win, we can gloat and feel secure until we lose.  If we lose, we may feel defeated and isolated.  It’s not a healthy lifestyle, but if we compete hard enough, we may do well enough to live comfortably enough.  This breeds materialism, greed, bitterness, judgment, and many other destructive things.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

            Find rest in this.  When love lends itself to humble service, we’re living into our God-created design.  Seriously, God created us to love him and to love others – when we fail to do this, we sin and things go badly. 

Inevitably, if we believe that there may be truth to this, we learn that the only way to do this is to live with an attitude of humility and trust.  Be faithful to what is in front of you and don’t speculate too much.  Always love.  That’s the constant, love for God and love for others.  As we do this, we see more and more shadows of heaven, of the design that God intended.  They are beautiful things that satisfy the soul more fully than anything this depraved world has to offer.  Experience the abundant life.  Love the Lord with all your being, and love your neighbor as yourself.