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Galatians 5:13-15 - "For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another."
Recently, I attended a state convention where I served on the scholarship committee. Applications were to be accompanied with a letter describing qualities in leadership, service, and character. I was in awe the applicants' joy and understanding of the importance of volunteering. Galatians 5:13-15 was spoken very keenly in their letters as they lived their lives of "love your neighbors as yourself" in various ways.
Under the area of service, one applicant wrote: "...serving others seems to come more naturally when I can help them day by day with anything they may need, whether it's a friend they need or....helping others feel better about themselves when they feel like they're at the bottom..." The applicant went on to say "...I will continue to help others through my heart before doing it for money."
Another applicant opened her letter with a quote from Winston Churchill who said, "We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give." Again, under the category of Service, she described an epiphany as she cared enough to lovingly help her neighbor: "When a huge storm shook our area in the morning July 21, 2008, I loaded up my father's pickup with axes and a pair of leather gloves and crossed the river into Illinois to help with the disaster cleanup. Trees were down, power was out, and worry about the water supply spread. I stopped to aid as many people as I could over the next days by chopping up fallen trees and clearing away debris. It was a moment of epiphany; we were brothers in arm fighting to restore minimal normality to a horrifying situation. It was the moment I truly learned that service to others is the highest form of living."
The message of these young scholarship-seeking applicants is not only scriptural, but spiritual epiphany allowing Christ to work in them as they identify the freedom to become slaves to one another.
Galatians 5:13 is warning against self-indulgence. Freedom is a gift from God through Christ who has called us to be Christ-like in our actions and in the words we speak. Love God above all else and love your neighbor as thyself. I Peter 2:16b "...live as servants of God." Living in the footsteps of Christ cause us to be like Christ: "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. ...let us be guided by the Spirit." Winston Churchill's words helped a young girl see Christ had awakened in her a desire to love her neighbor from the warmth of her heart.
Marcia Young, AiM
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