Galatians 5; Psalm 63

Galatians 5
The Galatian believers must have been slow to catch on (just as we are!) because Paul again emphasizes that keeping the law or any rules and regulations does nothing to make us right with God. Circumcision was the example he used because this was meaningful for Jewish people. Remember that circumcision is just a symbol of any type of works, rule or regulation. vv 1-4

We have been saved apart from the law by God's grace alone. We live by the Spirit because we have placed our faith in Christ Jesus. vv. 5-6

Just as Paul warned the Galatians to resist false teaching, we should do the same. How do we recognize the truth? If we are sensitive to Him, the Holy Spirit will warn us that something is "off." But mostly we must be sure that we are learning and absorbing the Word, God's written revelation. We should compare every teaching to what we read in the Bible.

Now, getting back to our freedom in Christ, Paul tells us that the freedom is not to be used to satisfy our sinful natures. Rather, it is to be used to serve one another in love. "For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love  your neighbor as yourself.'" vv. 13-15

"Love your neighbor as yourself" are easy words to say, but how can we really do this? vv. 16-20 emphasize that we are to live by the Holy Spirit's power. When He guides our lives, we won't be doing what our sinful nature craves. The Holy Spirit "gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires." We read the ugly list of the desires of our sinful nature, and it's not pretty. We are well aware of these things in our own hearts as well as in the world around us. But look at the contrast of the qualities that the Holy Spirit produces!  When we are living in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will produce: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! We belong to Jesus Christ and have "nailed the passions and desires of our sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there." v. 24 And so we are indeed free to live according to the Holy Spirit's leading!

Psalm 63

We live in a world where everyone is desperately searching for someone or something to satisfy them. Only God Himself can fill our deepest needs. When it seems that everything else has dried up, we still have God. v. 1  We need to look to Him to remember His power, glory, and unfailing love. This will prompt us to praise Him and even sing songs of joy! vv.2-8.

Here is a portion of this psalm set to music:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlypwnq5WY8