WATCH OUT!

[tomdurst]

WATCH OUT!

by Thomas E Durst

Galatians 5:14-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

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.

In Galatians Paul warns against a "law based" way of living which leads to legalism and eats away like a cancer, utterly destroying Spirit filled living. When we lose sight of God's love we begin to suffer and in our suffering oftentimes become critical and harsh towards others who are experiencing the same struggles that we have. Paul uses the descriptive terms "biting and devouring one another" and as this is done others are destroyed in some way, even though outwardly this may not be obvious. We need to constantly be diligent in our own devotional life so that we are not affected by the "biting and devouring" of others and even be drawn into such behavior if we aren't careful. It is so easy to lash out against others and be critical when we are hurting deeply and things aren't going well in our life. Throughout the Bible we have wonderful spiritual principles for living close to God and relating in loving ways to others. Characteristic of Paul's writings in particular are the linking together of "faith and love" in contrast to a legalistic, rule based way of life. Living by rules takes many forms and so none of us are exempt from this temptation.

Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others.--H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I invite you to read THE GOAL OF PEACE which is on the link below:

THE GOAL OF PEACE