Gal. 5:1, 7-9, 13-14, 24-25 (NIV)

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Reflection:

These verses are written to the church in Galatia, who were encountering opposition and false teaching that tried to draw them away from the life laid out by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But the Apostle Paul declared to them and also to us today that whatever the distractions are that come our way, we have been chosen and set free to live a focused life of following Jesus Christ, and that life is lived by the Spirit. And now having received this precious freedom of living by the Spirit, we are encouraged to keep in step with the Spirit - to love and serve one another. And it only gets better. It is the Spirit who makes the journey real and sweeter.

Response:

Marathons can be grueling and once you lose focus, things can get harder and harder, and the race may not always end up in your favor. Blinders are placed on certain beasts of burden in order to help them remain focused and undisturbed as they travel. While on this journey following the Lord, distractions will come that may cause us to lose focus or make the traveling seem not so great after all. However, we have received the Spirit, and can now remain focused and withstand disturbances. Let’s pray and ask the Lord to help us to live in the freedom of Christ, loving and serving one another, keeping in step with the Spirit that lives in us.