Galatians 6

From chapter 5, Paul expounded to the Galatians that the physical circumcision required under the Old Testament Law was no longer profitable after Christ came to liberate man of their sins through His Blood.

So Paul warned the Galatians to be aware of the teaching and of the people who preached of the need of circumcision for salvation; for these people were not walking according to the Spirit of Christ but of the lust of the flesh, seeking after their own glory.

Therefore those who belong to Christ must walk according to the Spirit (Gal 5: 25), and in walking in the Spirit, one must manifest the works of the Spirit.

So in today’s chapter, Apostle Paul continued to admonish the Galatians of the need to exercise the fruit of the Spirit – love.

Bible Passage: Galatians 6

We all must have heard a lot about the importance of love among the brethren, which is part of doing good, but the big question is, “do we really actually exercise the kind of love, care and concern to the people around us and our brethren that Paul has stated in this chapter?”

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not
give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially
to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV)

There are many things in life, in fact everything, which we can’t afford to take for granted.

We thought we still have many years to live and to do good to our neighbours and to our brethren as and when we feel like it, but are we very certain about how long we can live?

Very often when we see the need to do good to our brethren, we don’t do it immediately because we may be too shy, too busy, sometimes find it too troublesome, or sometimes even turn away from doing good due to certain grudges we hold against some people.

I think in such situations, we all must think hard who are we and to whom we belong to, why can’t we exercise the fruit of the Spirit?

The Spirit is the Spirit of God, and when we have the Spirit of God in us, we are no ordinary people!

We are the children of the Almighty God who is so willing to put up with our shortcomings and weaknesses, and He dwells in us as the Holy Spirit. So on our part, are we going to continue to live like the people of the world, holding on to a kind of love that is superficial? Even some of the people of the world who don’t know the love of Christ can manifest a much better love than us who have the knowledge of the unconditional love of Jesus!

I believe many of us who are in the True Church know how embarrassing this is, but on the other hand, do we put in our effort to learn and to change? Sad to say that most of us would say, “well I’m like that, can’t help much, it’s my character.”

So we have to seriously consider our ways that are not up to the standards of the Bible, for time is not under our control, if we don’t seize the opportunity in doing things that we have to do, then we will live to regret it. Just as King Solomon said,

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought
or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (ESV)

It is true that we humans are limited in many areas, especially time and our ability, but we still have to depend on the Holy Spirit to do our best in doing good.

If we are not even willing to put in our effort to do good, how then can we fulfill what our Lord Jesus requires of us? “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Ref.Matt. 5:48)

Can we be perfect if we don’t even see the importance in doing good, especially to those who are of the household of faith?

We are one in the Body of Christ; so treasure this unique unity we have in the Lord, exercise the love of Christ that people of the world can see and feel His great love through us.

I want to share this hymn, Bind Us Together, for it has been ringing in my mind as I was writing this blog.

May God have mercy on us.

Shalom!