Galatians 5:13, 14
‘”For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVEYOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”‘
I'm going to do the rare thing and address this verse a third time. The first entry was on freedom in Christ, the second was using freedom in an abusive way. Today will be using freedom to love and serve others.
Part of their problem was becoming entangled with the Law they were freed from. Today's passage speaks of the new law they should be bound to, love. This is a new perspective for the Galatians. It appears they were caught up in using their freedoms for selfish purposes. The next verse says they are biting and devouring one another.
Early in James 4, he says this, "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is the source not your pleasures that wage war in your body’s parts? You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures", (1-3). This is what happens when we use our freedoms on selfish pursuits, quarrels and conflicts and worse.
While this might not be our lifestyle, many of us waver into this. It's easy to be overly focused on what we want. People are always there to interrupt that. When that inevitably happens, it should be a reminder to ask for patience and relax. If not, we wade deeper into conflict. This is surrendering ourselves and our freedom to our covetousness.
These are junctures that mature us in Christ or enslave us to selfishness. We were freed to love. Pastor Chuck used to say, "keep a light touch on things". We shouldn't be gripping so tightly that we're made miserable. We should say, "Ok, Lord, maybe this isn't Your will or maybe it isn't the right time".
Pausing is good. It's almost like we've been so focused on our pursuit that we are blind to what's going on. This pause allows us to stop and lift up our heads. This is a good time to pray. We are relaxing our grip on that thing. Thus demonstrating that we are free from it.
This pause and pray should include that other person. "Lord, give me wisdom here. Is this something You want me to do? How does this person (who is obstructing) fit in. Help me to love this individual. Do I just relinquish or should there be some interaction?" This is opening the door to showing love. Just the fact that we aren't hard charging is a big deal. Like yielding to the one who wants to enter our lane. Our backing off is showing grace and blesses them.
We also are blessed. Even if the person ignores our good deed, we have caused selfishness's hand to be relaxed. God also blesses us for kindness. It might not be in the moment, but it'll come. I can recall several blessings from scripture. Here's one, "Blessed are all who fear the Lord. Who walk in His ways", (Psalm 128:1). To yield our will is walking in His ways. It sees others.
Lord, thank You for this freedom. I would never have seen yielding as freedom. Your Word and guidance have shown us. Help us to see others and calculate their wants. You empower us to love others.