November 07, 2021: SOAP #4357:  Job 31, 32; Galatians 5,6

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 5:13 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. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

OBSERVATION:  When a person is set free after a long time in prison, they may not know, or remember, how to live free.  They lived in an environment controlled by rules made by someone else.  Their day had been planned out for them.  Their choices were very limited.  Their freedom brings choices.  They can set their own schedule.  They can choose where to live.  They need to learn how to live in this new experience of freedom.  They will need to learn a new set of rules that apply to their life of freedom.  Otherwise, they may end up back in bondage. 

Being set free from the Old Testament law of how we must relate to God, I am free to choose to follow the two basic rules of life set by Jesus; first, love the Lord our God with all my heart, mind, and strength; and second, love my neighbor as myself. 

The passage between the two verses above contains some guidelines on who is our neighbor and what it means to love our neighbors. 

APPLICATION:  As we would expect, Acts 10:38 tells us that Jesus “went around doing good…”  The love that motivated His sacrifice on Calvary, also motivated Him to do good wherever He went. 

Jesus, who lives in me, is still going about doing good.  He is now working through those who call Him Lord; those in whom His Spirit dwells.  Doing good is a hallmark of His people. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I know I cannot meet all the needs presented to me every day, so I am depending on you to bring to my attention those places where you would have me do something good.  May the good that I do glorify you. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!