Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Galatians 5:16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
Galatians 5:18 "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the
law."
There are those people who feel it is too rigid a life to follow Christ. They
think it really puts too many restrictions on them if they try to walk the path
that God has laid out for us. The truth of the matter is that the only
restrictions that are placed are those which would bring pain and misery upon
us. Paul began this chapter by saying, "Stand fast therefore in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." Christ has made us
free! Christ has made us FREE !! So what are the guidelines for
walking in this liberty? The key is found in one word - love. We love God
because He first loved us. Because of His love for us, we can love others. If
we truly have love in our hearts, we will not want to do those things which God
has restricted.
It is a fact that if we walk in the natural tendencies of the flesh that we end
up with guilt and regret in our lives. But if we walk in the Spirit of God, we
can experience the fullness of joy and contentment. What are those things
experienced in our lives when we choose to love others by walking in the Spirit
of God? "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) There
is no law against loving, having joy in our hearts and the peace that
accompanies. There are no restrictions to being patient, showing goodness, and
having faith in our Lord. It isn't against the law to place our dependence upon
God. Actually that shows the inner strength that is ours through Christ Jesus.
So the question for me this morning is this: Do I want to experience guilt,
pain, misery, and remorse? Or, do I want to have that which brings inner peace
and joy? Though I have not always made the right choices, my heart's
desire is to have peace with God and live peaceably among others.