Love and Serve

Galatians 5

13 For you were called for freedom, brothers; only do not turn this freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.''

The all-inclusive redemption of Christ a believer enjoys is an all-inclusive freedom in Christ. However, this freedom without discipline will lead into indulgence of the flesh. Though he is saved eternally, but he may not be saved definitely in his day to day living. Yes, Christ has freed us from the bondage of the law and the bondage of religion, but this freedom without a proper vision of the goal for which freedom was obtained would mislead one into the error of free indulgence under the disguised banner that one is under no bond and is free to do whatever he wants. This is an error of imbalance.

Often in a Christian's life one tends to take for granted the glorious freedom Christ has given. But this freedom is that one be a part in the fulfillment of God's eternal plan. The goal of freedom is that one can be free to enjoy the Lord, free to experience Him richly and free to built up in love with the fellow members for the building up of the Body of Christ. If one's freedom does not usher into God's eternal purpose, that freedom has lost its goal. The Galatians believers were freed from the old covenant to the new covenant, yet they tend to be yoked with religious old covenant again. This did not meet God's goal, Therefore, Paul chastised them.And with this freedom, " through love serve one another."  And all the whole law is fulfilled in one word "LOVE." "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.''

Yesterday and today, I got stuck at these verses. I could not go any further as I read these verses. For I have not in reality experienced this yet. This matter of love for one another, not only the brothers and sisters in the church, but also my neighbor as myself, is still a farsighted dream. In my self I cannot make it, for I do not have enough love, even the little I have is just cocooned in my own world--my self, my family and my-domain. These days, my prayer also has been that the divine love of God may fill and saturate me to love other with the divine love. 

Practically, God gave me an opportunity to experience this. After two months of considering and reconsidering, the Lord led us, me and my wife, in peace and in one accord to open our home for brothers' house. With the inner sense of joy and peace, we got through with this. What a mercy from the Lord! Still many more lessons to learn as bachelor-brothers are going to be blended with married family with kids under one roof. May the Lord bless this new beginning and make our church-life real with genuine care and concern for one another. 

Coincidentally, another incident occurred in which I was tested for giving accommodation to a brother in need  at the wee hour of the night without prior information.Though I said nothing nor expressed anything, I was exposed that my heart needed to be more enlarged. As I read this verse this morning, I just could not go forward with the succeeding verses. The Lord stopped me. The simple reason being, I have not learned my lesson well yet. Immediately I repented and asked forgiveness for not being broad-hearted. After this, when I met the brother, I greeted him well and the inner peace was restored. To take care of my brother's need, whatever the reason otherwise, is to love my neighbor as myself.

Again, God gave me another opportunity to give an impromptu love-feast to a couple who,  by the way, visited us. They had lunch with us, in my stead. And I was blessed to serve them even in little things of serving the food and washing the dishes. A goal of building up the Universal Body of Christ begins with a step of service.

Lord, give me more of Your love, that with your divine love, I may love my neighbor.