Living in the Liberty of God's Grace

I have been working the book of Galatians of late. What a tremendous epistle of great truth in order to live and abound in liberty. I read the book first in the King James Version, but it seemed rote, having read and listened to that version many, many times. I then took a look at the Amplified Version. Good. But this time, I still needed something more. Then I explored the Message Bible. WOW!!! I really like this version for the heart and impact it resonates. I felt like I was sitting down, one on one with the Apostle Paul. Granted, I am not endorsing any particular version; all have their flaws and strengths and often the KJV has a lot of resources that make it a great study version, besides the great attribute of the translators adding italized words when they added words not in the Stephens Greek Text from which it was translated.

For the brevity of time I will give a capsulized rundown of the theme and the heart of this epistle. Paul is encouraging the Galatians to embrace the liberty that is to be found in giving up your own personal ego and embracing instead, who you truly are in the gift of holy spirit, the inner man, also referred to as "Christ in you". This is where rest resides...in embracing what has already been done, and not in the works to enter in by our own futile efforts. In ourselves there is defeat; in Him we are complete.

Too often I observe people running around like crazy, striving to do things to be approved by others, or to feel acceptible to God. We are already acceptible, the work was already done in the new birth when perfection of what God did in Christ was imparted to us...not by works we did, but by His perfect work. The perfection is not in our flesh: perfecting our homes, our bodies, our hair and wardrobe, the car we drive, the job we have, our education. Notice here how the focus is upon ourselves. It's not about how perfect we are in and of ourselves. We are limited in what we can do and how perfect we can be via the body and soul categories of life. These are temporal and they perish day by day. But the inner man! The perfection of the spirit within man upon getting born again! That's incorruptible, it's perfect, it's complete. We have this perfection within simply because we believed on Christ, that he is Lord because God the Father gave him glory and dominion over all things. We believe that he died, but didn't remain in the grave, but that God raised him by His great power and that he lives today and forever more.

So, what do we do with this new found liberty? Good question, I'm glad you asked.

We serve in love. The only law we are now to be under is Christ's Law which is the law of love: Love God all out! With all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And after that (not before), love your neighbor (others...not just those down the street) as you would love yourself. That's it! That's all there is to do. If people would live this way, there would be no need for all the other laws that are set up by governments, places of employment, communities, house rule, tradition, religion, etc...

The sad thing about liberty is when people claim it but do not exercise it unto service out of love for others but rather abuse it in selfish gain for themselves. This is when the works of the flesh prevail in a persons life and they bring forth putrid fruit. But when we do things God's way, the fruit is beautiful and wholesome. This liberty at it's best. Eyes focused upon the needs of others (though not at one's total expense, for we love others AS WE LOVE OURSELVES). So the same care we would give ourselves it what we extend to others, the same courtesies, etc. If we were doing this, then we wouldn't be violating God's commandments; instead they would be axiomatic!

The thing is, we look for opportunities to do good to others, expecially among those closest to us in the community of fellow believing people. Clearly, we extend grace to all, but the priority of our time, resources and energies should go to those who have believed on Christ, as they are brethren. The first place to practice this grace, this liberty is among those closest to us, our immediate families. And remember, grace is unmerited, undeserved favor. We don't encourage, edify, comfort, exhort...in other words, extend grace...because they deserve it, more precisely, it's because they DON'T deserve it. People need love, prayers, and grace when they deserve it least. When did we deserve what God gave us?

If I have stirred up your heart even a little by this little blog passage, I encourage you to go read the church epistles of the Apostle Paul for yourselves. Go check out various versions of the Bible and see the threads of liberty that is woven throughout these letters that Paul wrote to the saints, the born again believers he counted as brethren, not kin by the flesh, but united by the spirit that dwells within. There is SO MUCH GRACE available in this day and time! This whole time period since the day of Pentocost has been with a focus of God extending goodness and grace to those who simply believe, no works required. (Makes me think of the boxed packages...there's no assembly require and batteries are included!)

Selah! (Think on, ponder these things, awhile.)

Here's a great link to Bible Gateway that has various versions...also a great scriptural study aid on many other levels. Play around with it and see what God reveals of His heart to you; only He can give you understanding of His heart and will: http://www.biblegateway.com/ (you may want to save this site to favorites for frequent reading).

God bless you and may you find rest in the liberating grace that sets you free, only truly found in God and in the knowledge of His son Jesus Christ! He led captivity captive. It's already done...enter in, rest awhile, get rejuivanted. Once you're recharged, reach out in love to help others get release from what's captivating them. This is how liberty grows in our lives, when we help others discover their liberty too. We are then working the work of Christ who, according to Luke 4:18 did this:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

(Please pardon any grammatical errors, this was done quickly and I have not made any edits yet.)

Visual DNA Personality Test by Youniverse

My results of the Youniverse personality test (a photo selection test):

Mood: Dreamer
Fun: Escape Artist
Habits: Back to Basics
Social: Thoughtful

http://youniverse.com/personality/feedback/982599c29967c226a0269b41cb27749b (not sure if the link will work to show my results, but hey, it's worth a try.

Take the test too. It's fun and easy!

Go to Http://DNA.imagini.net/friends then post your results here...