Footsteps #51

It is important to remember that God’s law derives from the nature of God’s perfect moral code and character. God’s law is universal, transcen­dent, and inspired to exhort us to live fully and completely in the shadow of His grace. God’s law is there to instruct and guide us in how to come closer to the Divine and how to gain a richer and deeper understanding of His love. As Paul states in Gal.5:14, the law is summed up in one directive, love. 

Having the law of God in your heart means having love in your heart (Ps.40:8). A community of faith that has the law of love in their hearts can never be one that is legalistic in a human sense. Further, belief in God and a focus on His gift of life to us can do nothing but instil love in us for others, naturally showing how faith leads to the law of love in our hearts.  

Many of us, in the privacy of our hearts, feel judged either by others or by our own internal standards with respect to the ways we fail in keeping God’s law. Gal.3 is a re-orientation. Refocusing on our faith in God, and His grace through the perfect gift and beautiful character of Jesus, will soften our hearts toward our own failings and those of others? By drawing from that spirit of forgiveness and grace, we refocus our lives to truly live out our highest calling to be sons and daughters of Christ by grace alone through faith, living a life in keeping with God’s law and bearing all the fruits of the Spirit? 

Can you see why I love Galatians 3 so much! Imagine what its principles could do in your own life, your family, your circle of friends, and even in your community of faith. Imagine an emphasis on faith-based living, as opposed to works-based! In a society where law has legal applications, how can we refocus our understanding of the Law of God as being that of love? How would that translate into our churches, schools, and families where we uplift each other through the law of love.