For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.—Galatians 5:13-15
The word “opportunity” used in verse 13 according to John MacArthur, was often used to refer to a central base of military operations. The freedom Christians have is not to be used as a base from which they can sin freely and without consequence. As born again believers, we ARE called to freedom...our freedom, however, is in Christ.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. —Romans 8:2
Our freedom in Christ is to be used for the benefit of others and perhaps by God’s grace, win them to Christ.
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. (1 Corinthians 9:19, ESV)
The key to this passage from my perspective is the word love used in conjunction with serving in verse 14. The OT and the NT agree...love fulfills the law. Love is the ruling principle of both.
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. "This is the first and great commandment. "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."—Matthew 22:36-40
When legalism reigns, love is lacking. The outward requirements of the law become more important than the inward. Legalism misses the heart. It overlooks and dismisses the people Christ died to save. The best imagery for me of what happens among believers in the spiritual realm when love is lacking is aptly stated in verse 15...we bite, devour and are consumed by one another. Pretty graphic picture and a stark warning.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Isaiah 32:15-19
15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
And righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
17 The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,
In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,
19 Though hail comes down on the forest,
And the city is brought low in humiliation.—Isaiah 32:15-19
What a beautiful picture of the work the Spirit of God does in our hearts and lives. Matthew Henry says it is God’s good will toward us and His good work in us. God by his grace gives men his Holy Spirit and in so doing He is in effect giving them all good things.
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"—Luke 11:13
The Spirit makes our wilderness a fruitful field...a fruitful field is then counted as a forest of fruitfulness when the Spirit is poured upon us from on high...Justice dwells with us and righteousness remains. The work of righteousness is peace...peace with God and peace from God. The effect of righteousness...security forever and ever.
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.—Romans 5:5
And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
And righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
17 The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,
In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,
19 Though hail comes down on the forest,
And the city is brought low in humiliation.—Isaiah 32:15-19
What a beautiful picture of the work the Spirit of God does in our hearts and lives. Matthew Henry says it is God’s good will toward us and His good work in us. God by his grace gives men his Holy Spirit and in so doing He is in effect giving them all good things.
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"—Luke 11:13
The Spirit makes our wilderness a fruitful field...a fruitful field is then counted as a forest of fruitfulness when the Spirit is poured upon us from on high...Justice dwells with us and righteousness remains. The work of righteousness is peace...peace with God and peace from God. The effect of righteousness...security forever and ever.
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.—Romans 5:5
Our habitation is our God...He preserves and keeps us no matter what kind of storm is raging around us. Oh, Father...thank you for Your humbling work in my life...thank you that You heard my cry and brought me up out of a horrible pit and set my feet upon a rock. Thank you for Your Spirit that You in Your lovingkindness have poured out in my heart. I want to rely on Your Spirit today and every day for the strength and ability to do that which You have prepared for me.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.—Ps 84:5-7
I will lift up my eyes to the hills--
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.—Psalm 121
Our Sure Foundation...
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.—Isaiah 28:16
Such a beautiful and magnificent truth! Our God is our sure foundation. He, like the hymn writer says, has been proven o’er and o’er. He is the only One worthy of our trust. Whoever trusts Him will not act hastily. I never quite understood what the last part of that verse meant, so I read it i the Amplified version and it made this verse even more precious!
“Listen carefully, I am laying in Zion a Stone, a tested Stone, A precious Cornerstone for the [secure] foundation, firmly placed. He who believes [who trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone] will not be disturbed or give way [in sudden panic].”
Those who trust God never need to run scared. I liked the word “adhere” too. It reminds me of the kind of glue that really sticks. The rulers of Judah were trusting in lies and falsehoods. Their misplaced trust in Egypt would be to them like a bulge in a high wall whose collapse comes suddenly. It will be smashed as completely as an earthenware vessel, with no fragments big enough to use even in minor chores. God speaks to Judah here and He speaks to us.
For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel has said this, “In returning [to Me] and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and confident trust is your strength.”—Isaiah 30:15
Praying my heart rests in My God today and that my strength lies in a quiet confidence in Him rather than running from one thing to another in frenetic anxiety and fear. You LONG to be gracious to us...Blessed, happy, fortunate are all those who LONG for You since You will never fail them.
For God alone my soul waits in silence and quietly submits to Him, For my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; My fortress and my defense, I will not be shaken or discouraged. 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; He is my rock of [unyielding] strength, my refuge is in God. 8Trust [confidently] in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.—Ps 62:5-8 AMPLIFIED.
Such a beautiful and magnificent truth! Our God is our sure foundation. He, like the hymn writer says, has been proven o’er and o’er. He is the only One worthy of our trust. Whoever trusts Him will not act hastily. I never quite understood what the last part of that verse meant, so I read it i the Amplified version and it made this verse even more precious!
“Listen carefully, I am laying in Zion a Stone, a tested Stone, A precious Cornerstone for the [secure] foundation, firmly placed. He who believes [who trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone] will not be disturbed or give way [in sudden panic].”
Those who trust God never need to run scared. I liked the word “adhere” too. It reminds me of the kind of glue that really sticks. The rulers of Judah were trusting in lies and falsehoods. Their misplaced trust in Egypt would be to them like a bulge in a high wall whose collapse comes suddenly. It will be smashed as completely as an earthenware vessel, with no fragments big enough to use even in minor chores. God speaks to Judah here and He speaks to us.
For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel has said this, “In returning [to Me] and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and confident trust is your strength.”—Isaiah 30:15
Praying my heart rests in My God today and that my strength lies in a quiet confidence in Him rather than running from one thing to another in frenetic anxiety and fear. You LONG to be gracious to us...Blessed, happy, fortunate are all those who LONG for You since You will never fail them.
For God alone my soul waits in silence and quietly submits to Him, For my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; My fortress and my defense, I will not be shaken or discouraged. 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; He is my rock of [unyielding] strength, my refuge is in God. 8Trust [confidently] in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.—Ps 62:5-8 AMPLIFIED.
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