March 24 - Galatians 5:2-6

March 24 - Galatians 5:2-6

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Now, I’m pretty sure that Paul is not speaking out against circumcision in and of itself.  However, he is talking about allowing ourselves to be taken in by those who would have us give up our freedom so that we can fit in with their idea of how we should walk with God.

It’s easy to think about all of the cults and strange religious groups that ask you to give up your freedom in order to join their group and be ruled by their religious leader.  We think that is horrendous and feel terrible pity for those who subject themselves to that type of life. 

We can not allow ourselves to get caught up in things that stop us from expressing love, whether it is church politics or doctrinal issues, political and religious issues.  All of these things are in place to harden our hearts towards others. 

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.