liberty | considering the word

The Galatian church was a church being turned away from the grace of Jesus. Paul had taught them, they’d believed, but someone had come into their midst and caused them to believe that grace wasn’t enough. Sound familiar? Suddenly, they started thinking they had to begin observing the old Jewish customs again of the Passover, the Feasts, festivals, and other areas of the law. They were even about to become circumcised. They went back to the old ways because what they were doing wasn’t enough. It couldn’t be enough, could it?

Paul asked them if they really believed that if they started out in the Spirit of the Lord were they were now being made perfect by what they were doing in the flesh? He implored them, “Stand fast in the freedom by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Over and over, he reminded them that Jesus fulfilled the law and brought grace and victory for a reason. He said that if we bind ourselves within the confines of the law again then Christ died for nothing. Christ died to fulfill the law once and for all, and anyone who tells us otherwise is not of God.

That freedom doesn’t mean we should simply live or speak however we choose, however. There is more to the story…

Tune in again tomorrow,

jamie

Pr. 27:9: “Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.”
Having just spent the morning playing with essential oils, this verse about perfume delighting the heart certainly stands out for me.

And is it surprising that my reading in Acts this morning also speaks to this verse? In Acts 15 we find that “certain men” came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren of Gentiles that unless they were circumcised, they could not be saved.

The teaching certainly caused many to become troubled and upset. The apostles and elders then met to discuss the matter and were reminded that it was the Holy Spirit who acknowledged the Gentiles and not men themselves. James recited the words God spoke through Amos that said that all mankind could seek the Lord, “Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name.”

The Holy Spirit did not call us to place burdens upon our fellow believers. John 8:36 tells us that, “If the Son (Jesus) makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Just as ointment and perfume delight the heart, sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel. Those believers who had been troubled received a letter declaring that no excess burdens would be placed upon them. Vs. 31 says, “When they read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.”

Let’s make a pact that going forward we will allow the Holy Spirit to the Holy Spirit’s job; and that our hearty counsel will not trouble our friends or add excess burdens upon them, but that the freedom that was given through Jesus Christ will be poured upon them like a healing ointment and the sweetest of all perfumes.

Hoping to delight some hearts,

jamie