Galatians 5:13-15 All of the Law is fulfilled in love!

 1 Peter 2:16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

God’s love given to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ covered a multitude of sin…ours. The gifts of God are faith, hope and love and the greatest of these Holy Spirit writes to us is love. Without it we are just making noice. With Holy Spirit it is possible to both hear Him and follow Him in love, in joy, in peace, in kindness, in goodness, in faithfulness, in gentleness and in self control. What is impossible without Him is totally possible in Christ (Galatians 5:22-26). Carla

Galatians 5:13-15

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! (NKJV)

The Christian does not live under the law of Moses, but instead under “the law of Christ” (6:2). Living in Christ empowers us to love others, which is the fulfillment of the law (see Jesus’ summary of the Law and the Prophets in Matthew 22:36–40). When Christians follow their sinful desires they begin to criticize and contend with one another. Such self-centered behavior is self-defeating. Those who criticize and attack usually end up being consumed in worthless struggles. The only consistent way to overcome the sinful desires of our human nature (the flesh) is to live step-by-step in the power of the Holy Spirit as He works through our spirit. Walking each moment by faith in God’s word under the Spirit’s control assures absolute victory over the desires of our sinful nature. The NKJV Study Bible

If Christians, who should help one another, and rejoice one another, quarrel, what can be expected but that the God of love should deny his grace, that the Spirit of love should depart, and the evil spirit, who seeks their destruction, should prevail? Happy would it be, if Christians, instead of biting and devouring one another on account of different opinions, would set themselves against sin in themselves, and in the places where they live. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Paul urges the Galatians to use their freedom from the law’s requirements to fulfill the law’s essence: love of neighbor. According to Paul, God frees believers from slavery under the law so that they choose to serve one another. You shall love your neighbor as yourself by quoting Leviticus 19:18, Paul shows that the law itself upholds love as the main goal of law keeping. In the context of the letter, Paul uses this quote as a springboard to present a series of instructions (Galatians 5:16–6:10) that promote a healthy, godly church community in Galatia. 

Paul uses vivid imagery—wild animals in a deadly fight—to warn the Galatians that attacking one another ultimately will destroy their community. Faithlife Study Bible

Leviticus 19:18

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

1 Corinthians 8:9

But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 

1 Corinthians 9:19

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 

Galatians 6:2

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 

 I grew up in a church that taught me to believe. And to recite my beliefs (to have a creed). And to challenge anyone who had incorrect beliefs. Or if not challenge, at least pity them. And then I grew up. And it turns out that holding such blameless beliefs turns out to be the easy route. And I can tell you that I have too often used my belief system as a shield, rather than an invitation.
Believers are easy to find.
Practicers, that’s a different story. Think of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Two men who were advocates of a devout creed, plainly passed the beggar—who needed help—by. And one man—the Samaritan—stopped to care for the beggar, a vivid reminder that practicing what you preach, is a metaphor for the invitation, “get in”.

Don’t get me wrong. Passing by is easy to do. Think of it as living in a “bubble”.
It keeps us from seeing, or knowing, or commitment. And bubbles are a good sedative. “I don’t need to know.” Or, “I’m not affected. It’s not my world.”
When I think of this invitation to “get in”, I think of Jesus readily and willingly being “in the midst”. Whenever there was need, he did not pass by, staying in his bubble.
And reading the New Testament, we often see Jesus “in the midst”.
I love that phrase. So, when you "get in," get ready for the ride of your life.
When I get in, I am in touch with my heart. And I am available to... give, forgive, risk, fail, try, create, offer, feel, see, embrace wonder.
I am available to build-bridges, cry, laugh, play, grieve, mourn, fall-down, get-up-again, paint, write, and see poetry in the clouds.
I am available to lend a helping hand, hold a hand that needs it, and give in to the vulnerability of trusting another who pushes the wheelbarrow.

Why get in? Because we’re in this together, and I have something to give. And trust me, it makes a difference. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel, No.”
If life is to be lived, and not merely managed, get in.
If life is to pour out from the heart, and not be solely analyzed from the head, get in.
If life is not just about answers, but about asking the right questions, get in.

And I think of the parable of the shepherd looking for the lost sheep. Skill sets are one thing. We can teach them. And procedures and protocols can be learned (and in too many cases in church, they can be happily unlearned).
But a whole heart, an honest awareness and admission of what it means to be a lost sheep, to know sorrow in your heart, and a willingness to set down the moniker of expert and to say, “Please let me carry you” is enough.

“To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try." (Thank you Rosa Parks) We’re afraid to let “try” be our first step. And we’re afraid to let “fail” be our second step. And because of that, we never see the joy of finding lost sheep, and carrying them home.

Here’s the deal: when I am inundated with internal and external hubbub, I forget about the heart I can bring to this day. The touch I can give to people around me who are tussling with bleakness. The gift of welcome I can offer people who are left out and diminished. The calling I have (to be Tikkun Olam, repairer of the world) to bring pardon and hope and love.
Get in indeed.
My heart is wholly and unreservedly connected.
I realize that I can get in when I know that fear does not own me. In other words, when I know that I am loved, with nothing to prove and no one to impress. Sabbath Moments

Matthew 7:12 False prophets are those whose teaching contradicts Jesus’ teaching.

 Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

God will not be mocked! However you mistreat the least of us  you mistreat Him. Whatever you do for the least of us you do to God. Power corrupts and total power, which belongs to God alone, corrupts everyone. Carla

Matthew 7:12

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (NKJV)

The phrase the Law and the Prophets echoes 5:17. This so-called “Golden Rule” is the practical application of Leviticus 19:18: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The NKJV Study Bible

Whatever you want that people should do to you, thus also you do to them. This command, often called the Golden Rule, epitomizes Jesus’ ethical teaching and describes how people should interact with one another.

Jesus’ expression of this command reflects teachings from the Hebrew Bible (Leviticus 19:18) and other ancient Jewish texts (Sirach 31:15; Tobit Matthew 4:15).

For this is the law and the prophets, Jesus later says that the Law and the Prophets can be summarized by two commandments—to love God completely, and to love your neighbor as yourself (22:37–40).

False prophets are those whose teaching contradicts Jesus’ teaching. Beginning in Matthew 5:17, Jesus has reinterpreted the established religious and social norms of His day. Here, He portrays those who contradict His instruction as false prophets—people who falsely claim to speak on God’s behalf (2 Peter 2:1).

Sheep’s clothing refers to disguises that portray innocence. Ravenous wolves describes those seeking to undermine Jesus’ teaching for personal gain. Faithlife Study Bible

Luke 6:31

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

Matthew 22:39–40

And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Romans 13:8–14

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”…

1 Titus 1:5

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

Yes, every one of us is afraid at times. Who knows all the reasons. But when it happens, we revert to a zero-sum view of the world. We believe that resources—including compassion, mercy, kindness, forgiveness and generosity—are finite. We believe that life is short, and you get what you can. And if I don't know you, you are my enemy... or at the very least, someone to be mistrusted.

So. In this churning and uncertain environment, where can we draw our identity, and our character, allowing us to unlock mercy?

This is from Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, "So; chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength and discipline. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it."  Sabbath Moments

Psalm 113:4-6 Who is like our God? No one…

Psalm 57:11

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

Let Your glory be above all the earth

All honor and praise belong to You Lord, our God. You rule both the heavens and earth and in You all things exist. We were created in Your desire to have a relationship with those who choose to love You. All glory  is Yours. Dear Holy Spirit teach me to love like You. Carla

Psalm 113:4-6

4 The Lord is high above all nations,

His glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God,

Who dwells on high,

6 Who  humbles Himself to behold

The things that are in the heavens and in the earth? (NKJV)

Unlike the man-made gods of the ancient Middle East, the Lord is not limited to a certain tribe or territory. He is sovereign over all; He is Most High (7:17; 47:2).  Not only is God supreme over all nations, His glory cannot be contained in the universe. His glory is not only beyond the universe, it is beyond the capacity of human language to fully describe. Perhaps this explains Paul’s response to his visit above the heavens (2 Corinthians 12:1–4). The rhetorical words who is like the Lord present the incomparability of God (Isaiah 40:25). God draws near to us. The NKJV Study Bible

The psalmist focuses on Yahweh’s power and authority over everything. He implies that Yahweh deserves that position of authority because of His glorious character

High is  a figure of speech that emphasizes God’s ultimate authority over all the nations. All nations refers to geographical territories outside of Israel.

His glory is above the heavens. Just as Yahweh is above the nations and has authority over them, He has authority over the heavens as well. Yahweh is not bounded by the heavens—as other ancient Near Eastern gods were generally believed to be—and He is above any other beings that inhabit the heavenly realm.

Yahweh our God, the Hebrew text here uses the phrase yhwh eloheinu, which may be rendered “Yahweh our God.” This combination of names for Yahweh originated in the exodus story, where God reveals His personal name (Exodus 3:14; 6:2, 8) and enters into a covenant with Israel (Exodus 19:5–6). Who is enthroned on high the image of a seated king implies stable authority and rule—the king, Yahweh, is not away from his throne in an effort to subdue his kingdom, but rules it from the splendor of his palace. Who condescends to look at, this phrase further emphasizes Yahweh’s position above everything (Psalm 113:4). He rules over the entire created order (including heaven), and His nature and capacity cannot be contained within that created order. Heavens and in the earth is a  figure of speech that indicates “everything. Faithlife Study Bible

Psalm 11:4

The LORD is in His holy temple,

The LORD’s throne is in heaven;

His eyes behold,

His eyelids test the sons of men.

Psalm 99:2

The LORD is great in Zion,

And He is high above all the peoples.

Malachi 1:11

For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,

My name shall be great among the Gentiles;

In every place incense shall be offered to My name,

And a pure offering;

For My name shall be great among the nations,

“Says the LORD of hosts.

Psalm 8:1

O LORD, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth,

Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

The Chafetz Chaim (Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagin, leader in the Jewish world, 1838 – 1933) was asked about his impact and how he made a difference. He answered, “I set out to try to change the world, but I failed. So, I decided to scale back my efforts and only try to influence the Jewish community of Poland, but I failed there, too. So, I targeted the community in my hometown of Radin, but achieved no greater success. Then I gave all my effort to changing my own family, and failed at that as well. Finally, I decide to change myself, and that’s how I had such an impact on the Jewish world.”

Rabbi Ted Falcon, a good friend of Sabbath Moment, reminds us, “We seek to remember that blessing comes in meeting the authentic call of the moment with greater compassion. There are always inner voices that focus on what is wrong in ourselves, in others, and in our world. There are always opportunities to act unkindly. But each moment offers us the opportunity to step into our freedom with greater awareness. The Way of One is a Way of deep compassion, healing, and forgiveness. It's a choice we are challenged to make again and again.”

These are life-giving stories during a week that we are remembering the “wardrobe”—Paul’s invitation in his letter to the Colossians, “So; chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength and discipline. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”

Those bearings that unlock mercy and passion and grace... and who knows, maybe even the possibility for healing and peacemaking. Sabbath Moments

John 13:34-35 We love others because God first loved us.

 1 Thessalonians 4:9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another

Others, believers and non believers, will know God by the love that we show them. It is not enough to love God above all but also that the fruit of Holy Spirit will reflect His will in our lives by the love in all of our actions. Who does God love? everyone. He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life with Him. God’s love makes the world go round. Without love for others in our actions we are just making noise. Carla

John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (NKJV)

Jesus inserts this phrase into the commandment from Leviticus 19:18. The new part of the commandment is that Jesus’ disciples are instructed to love other people the way Jesus loved them—serving them like a slave would, as He does in this scene, even to the point of laying down their lives for others. The indicator of a Christian is the way they treat others. Faithlife Study Bible

The command to love was new because Jesus gave it a new standard. Moses said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). Jesus said the new standard was as I have loved you. Jesus gave His disciples the example of love that they were to follow (verses 1–17). Unbelievers recognize Jesus’ disciples not by their doctrinal distinctives, nor by dramatic miracles, nor even by their love for the lost. They recognize His disciples by their deeds of love for one another. The NKJV Study Bible

John 15:12

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

1 John 2:7–11

Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining…

Leviticus 19:18

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Ephesians 5:2

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Mercy (unmerited love) is the fuel (the fire) for transparency, as I no longer need to run from regret.
I own my neurosis and my failings. They do not own me. From that place, healing and reconciliation is possible. Mercy frees our heart to love and to live.

“What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness,” George Saunders confessed.

Never underestimate the power of kindness.
Beginning with kindness to yourself.

So. This week, my friends, let us remember the wardrobe—Paul’s invitation in his letter to the Colossians, “So; chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength and discipline. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.  It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” Sabbath Moments