Tear Down the Walls: Galatians Part 1
Find a quiet place, free of distractions (or as close to it as possible) and take 5 deep breaths. God wants to speak to you.
We pick up with Bree’s story. She was awoken and drawn towards the smell of breakfast and a campfire…
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She paused right on the edge of the campsite. The edge—where she always stayed. And most people didn’t seem to notice. Bree expected no more of herself or anyone else for that matter; she almost laughed to herself. On her journey, away from where she had been and towards that other place that would bring relief, she was still exactly where she had been when she started: Just close enough to someone to feel more acutely just how alone she was.
But, then, the man looked up.
And smiled.
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We live in a connected, but lonely world. It seems as though the enemy has us in an anxiety trap: we live in a world with transparent walls. Each of us is isolated in a cell that can see in every direction. We can even hear each other, but we cannot actually get to each other. Like Bree, we are close enough to feel how alone we are.
You might resonate with these dynamics. We need community. We need actual human connection.
Towards the last section of Galatians, Paul writes:
13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
Galatians 5:13-15 NLT
It is obvious that Paul expects that the Galatians are in community: “serve one another in love.” There is a great treasure in the Body of Christ: being known by each other and knowing others. It is only in this context that we thrive.
Bree is going to experience the power of community on her journey. She is going to transcend the endless isolation of individualism, and discover the joy of serving others in commitment—a joy far beyond what she ever thought possible.
Today, as we approach Sunday, sign up for an in person gathering (CLICK HERE) or redouble your commitment to worship with the New Hope Body of Christ online.
End this week’s devotions with this prayer:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thank you for creating me to live in community. I confess that community is hard and that I really need your strength to continue in it. I ask you to bring along deep friendships. I ask you to help me to serve others in love. I ask you to bind New Hope together in love. Amen.
