Indecision and letting God lead
My devotional today was on Galatians chapter 5. Galatians is a New Testament letter written by Paul to the churches in Galatia about how they keep flip-flopping on what they believe and whose teachings they follow. The Galatians are also struggling with following the Law and responding freely to what God has called them to do - which is a life outside of the rules of the Law, under obedience to Jesus. Faith in Christ creates a relationship with the Father, not rule-keeping.
Obedience is a hard word to understand let alone to implement in our lives. We are disobedient by nature. We live in a “do whatcha like” world. Whatever feels good. Tastes good. Looks good. When we get bored we toss away love like it’s expendable, even when we have vowed never to do so.
Yes, laws and rules are there to protect us and others. Yet, if we focus on Jesus and His amazing love for us, wouldn’t we naturally want to be obedient to what God says is right-living?
In Galatians 5, Paul says that Jesus died to set us free. If we decide on rule-keeping and religion we have missed the point. You can go to church every Sunday, recite prayers, rest on the Sabbath, check off each day of Bible reading even - but faith without love is dead!
From the inside out we need to reflect Jesus and His love - not His religion - to the world. Paul often refers to running a race in his letters to the churches he helped found. The Message Bible says, “You were running the race superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place.”
Who cut in on you? What has set you off course? What detour have you gotten lost on? When did you look up and lose sight of the finish line?
Was it an old habit? A past relationship? Sleeping in on Sunday mornings? Watching a movie or show?
God has called you to a free life! But we can’t use our freedom as an excuse to do whatever feels good at the moment!
Paul says that selfishness is the root of sin. You can’t have a free spirit and be selfish. It just doesn’t work that way. Instead, if we choose to be led by the Spirit then true freedom comes! Stop being led by the way you feel at the moment. Erratic behavior is so harmful to you and to those you love.
Paul writes, "It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community, I could go on.”
Please read that passage again. And again if you have to. I am praying that you will be convicted of anything that has led you off course. When we choose or insist on our own way it results in distance from God and falling out of His grace. Jesus didn’t die for you to live a selfish, me-me-me life!
Living God’s way brings gifts into our lives - the things we don’t even notice when we are self-absorbed. Affection for self and others. Exuberance about life. Peace and serenity. Living God’s way allows us to stick to the race and FINISH it. Compassion develops in our hearts. Loyal commitments are made and kept. Marriages are saved. Children learn grace and self-control - not rules to be kept. It’s a freedom that you probably never dreamed of before. We can kill off that old life for good - Paul says it this way, “We were crucified with Christ. Everything connected with our old way of life and thinking is dead.” (my paraphrase)
Choosing and living the life of the Spirit go hand-in-hand. It will affect every area and aspect of our lives! What we wear. What we eat and drink. Our addictions. Jealousy. Anger. Guilt. Commitments and vows. All will fall under the authority of the Name Above All Names, Jesus!
We will have way more interesting things to occupy our minds and lives - no time for taking detours. Choose the free life that Jesus died to give you.
“Each of us is an original.”
What will originality look like in you today as your move forward in freedom?
For me, it will be ending a few habits and relationships. Returning to reading my Bible in a way that I enjoy through Bible journaling. And allowing myself to be exuberant again. Effervescent and able to direct my time and energy wisely.
Be Unique,
Carolyn
