5:1 Although the circumstances of our lives are sometimes out of our control, we are responsible for our behavior, for our reactions, words and responsive actions. That is precisely why Paul is urging the Galatians (and us) to stand fast, to be vigilant over our lives. We are not helpless victims. We are constantly presented with choices in life and we best make the decisions of those choices when we are alert, observant, perceptive and involved in what is going on around us.
Through the Galatians example and Paul's cautioning (and likely from our own experience in life) we know that it's easy to become sidetracked. If we are not focused and purposeful every day of our lives, small moments capture and redirect us.
In many ways we are made free through scripture but also through the spirit of compassion and creation in the world. Scripture provides a road map and encourages us to develop a blueprint of who we wish to be. Scripture helps us to decide where we want to go and how to get there. And although these words from Paul and other apostles and prophets in the Bible encourages us to go a certain way, our freedom to choose another is constantly stated. We are even taught how to get there... to both light and darkness. We are presented with wisdom and then we are entrusted to utilize it unique to ourselves.
5:2 Paul's particular message to the Galatians was to think more deeply than the superficial customs of religion. Jesus taught us that the character of our souls determined the path and culmination of our lives. The Galatians became entangled with rules and customs which may not have been necessarily wrong but were irrelevant to the actual message of God.
These same entanglements are still pervasive in our world today. The religious divisions across the globe are innumerable. It isn't wrong that diverse groups of people have developed diverse interpretations of divinity but it is wrong that those groups disrespect, neglect and battle each other. For the differences between the core-beliefs of each of the world's major religions are the same. Therefore, the though the expressions of faith are different, each are equally irrelevant in comparison to the expressions and actions of the soul.
5:3 Paul's warning is that the Galatians cannot divide their faith. When we establish our values, the spiritual-philosophy of our lives, we must dedicate our whole selves to it. The Galatians had converted their faith to this philosophy of God but had reverted back to former practices. Paul explains to them: you're either in or you're out.
5:4 In order to become estranged from Christ, one must have separated themselves from the qualities that He represented: justice, compassion, truth. Often we do not separate from our faith in one major occurrence. We must live every day with authentic kindness, truthfulness and fairness in order to remain tethered to each. Frequently and even infrequently abandoning our values contributes to the fraying of our connection with them.
5:5 It is through Spirit that all things are achieved, that all good is created. Whether a person is religious or not is irrelevant. If a person is in touch, in direct contact and in control of their soul, their purposeful actions fulfill so much.
Faith can be subtle. Productive faith often is subtle. Productive faith does not require or even rejoice in celebration or pronouncement but diligently works all the days of its life. The apostles, the prophets, all children of God hope for justice among humanity. Each of us achieve it through faith: faith in justice. Faith in compassion. Faith in truth. There are many ways to connect with divinity, with creation, with God, however He or It is conceived of.
5:6 "...faith working through love." Without works, faith is dead, proclaims James 2:14-26. Do not become entangled with or distracted by or obsessed with irrelevant matters. The only expression of faith that matters is action of love. Of compassion. Of justice. For if a person follows all of the rules and laws of the world but has an unjust, selfish, deceitful heart, their "faithful" efforts means nothing. They are simply empty displays.
Faith can be subtle. Productive faith often is subtle. Productive faith does not require or even rejoice in celebration or pronouncement but diligently works all the days of its life. The apostles, the prophets, all children of God hope for justice among humanity. Each of us achieve it through faith: faith in justice. Faith in compassion. Faith in truth. There are many ways to connect with divinity, with creation, with God, however He or It is conceived of.
5:6 "...faith working through love." Without works, faith is dead, proclaims James 2:14-26. Do not become entangled with or distracted by or obsessed with irrelevant matters. The only expression of faith that matters is action of love. Of compassion. Of justice. For if a person follows all of the rules and laws of the world but has an unjust, selfish, deceitful heart, their "faithful" efforts means nothing. They are simply empty displays.
5:7-8 Be vigilant over yourself and your life and your beliefs because truth does not distract you. If you become distracted it is not the fault of your faith.
5:9 With a small bit of encouragement, a tiny bit of light, amazing inspirations come to us. With just a little hope, a little wisdom, we learn and develop immeasurably. We must be active participants.
5:10 Paul has confidence that they (and we) will establish ourselves in spirit, in the productive work of ensuring of justice for humanity. For Paul knows the work and strength and wisdom of God and trusts that it will reach out to those who are reaching our for it.
The wish for the culprit of distraction to bear his judgement is a hope for Paul that those who deceive, distract and disarm others of their truth and faith will have to confront their wrongdoings. This is actual a generous hope from Paul: he wishes for realization of wrongdoing to teach and then reestablish that person.
5:11-12 Paul references a rumor which had spread about him. If it were true that he had participated in the religion he was contradicting, why would they still persecute him? Paul defends himself with logic. An example to us to not become embroiled in arguments. When we are authentic and truthful, logic is on our side, the ultimate defender, in all disagreements.
5:13 Utilize your freedom here well. Do not waste it selfishly. Matthew 22:39 encourages us to love others as we love ourselves. What does that actually mean? We should hope and pray and work for the happiness, health and justice of others as vehemently as we hope and pray for ourselves.
We are called to freedom to awaken, show up and work. Work for compassion and justice on the earth. Observing our current situation, it is clear that there is a lot of work to be done. The freedom we are given on earth was given to us as an opportunity to live gluttonously. We are here to become creators, to inspire new light, perseverance and happiness in the humans around us.
5:14 The Old Testament supports the New Testament in this verse: Leviticus 19:18, love as a verb. Love provides us with the inspiration, the materials, the tools and the blueprint to accomplish and to build on the earth for humanity. For when we love somebody we naturally, happily labor to maintain their well-being.
5:15 Here is an example of what we spoke of in the first verse, that the bible highlights our freedom of choice and provides the directions to both light and darkness. Here in this verse is the direction to darkness. When we live selfishly we ruin ourselves. We ruin the character of our souls. We waste our freedom. We accomplish nothing, We fulfill no justices, no happiness. We allow a destructive atmosphere to fester around us in which nobody is trustworthy or working selflessly for us.
God's children are creators. The children of darkness are consumers. One gives and the other takes. The giver is provided for in abundance at the culmination of their lives on earth. For both works of darkness and works of light proliferate, but only light endures and overcomes.
5:9 With a small bit of encouragement, a tiny bit of light, amazing inspirations come to us. With just a little hope, a little wisdom, we learn and develop immeasurably. We must be active participants.
5:10 Paul has confidence that they (and we) will establish ourselves in spirit, in the productive work of ensuring of justice for humanity. For Paul knows the work and strength and wisdom of God and trusts that it will reach out to those who are reaching our for it.
The wish for the culprit of distraction to bear his judgement is a hope for Paul that those who deceive, distract and disarm others of their truth and faith will have to confront their wrongdoings. This is actual a generous hope from Paul: he wishes for realization of wrongdoing to teach and then reestablish that person.
5:11-12 Paul references a rumor which had spread about him. If it were true that he had participated in the religion he was contradicting, why would they still persecute him? Paul defends himself with logic. An example to us to not become embroiled in arguments. When we are authentic and truthful, logic is on our side, the ultimate defender, in all disagreements.
5:13 Utilize your freedom here well. Do not waste it selfishly. Matthew 22:39 encourages us to love others as we love ourselves. What does that actually mean? We should hope and pray and work for the happiness, health and justice of others as vehemently as we hope and pray for ourselves.
We are called to freedom to awaken, show up and work. Work for compassion and justice on the earth. Observing our current situation, it is clear that there is a lot of work to be done. The freedom we are given on earth was given to us as an opportunity to live gluttonously. We are here to become creators, to inspire new light, perseverance and happiness in the humans around us.
5:14 The Old Testament supports the New Testament in this verse: Leviticus 19:18, love as a verb. Love provides us with the inspiration, the materials, the tools and the blueprint to accomplish and to build on the earth for humanity. For when we love somebody we naturally, happily labor to maintain their well-being.
5:15 Here is an example of what we spoke of in the first verse, that the bible highlights our freedom of choice and provides the directions to both light and darkness. Here in this verse is the direction to darkness. When we live selfishly we ruin ourselves. We ruin the character of our souls. We waste our freedom. We accomplish nothing, We fulfill no justices, no happiness. We allow a destructive atmosphere to fester around us in which nobody is trustworthy or working selflessly for us.
God's children are creators. The children of darkness are consumers. One gives and the other takes. The giver is provided for in abundance at the culmination of their lives on earth. For both works of darkness and works of light proliferate, but only light endures and overcomes.
5:16 Let your spirit navigate your life. Your spirit is naturally patient and compassionate and if given reign, will establish patience and compassion within and around your body here on earth. Living according to the flesh is to live according to desire, which leads to greed... and greed leads to a myriad of unpleasant qualities: jealously, vengeance, deceit, etc.
5:17-18 As Paul told the Corinthians above, you cannot divide your faith or the intention of your life. Unless you are focused, you are distracted. Seems simple right? Unless you are focused every day, in every moment and thought and action, you are distracted. Soul and body battle each other. We each crave and desire things. We each sometimes have selfish or impatient, maybe even unkind thoughts. What matters is that we do not give those moments of weakness the power to come alive.
Matthew 6:24 reminds us that we cannot be divided in thought. If we believe in something we must promote, defend and exemplify it throughout the course of our lives. We cannot be hypocrites: what we think, say and do must be united. We cannot be both greedy and charitable. If we are constantly working to encourage the charitable side of ourselves, we have chosen. And it counts. We are not perfect, on earth we cannot completely eliminate our fallibility but if we are trying, we are winning.
5:19-21 Works of the flesh, works of selfishness spawn ugly qualities within us. Instead journey toward these opposites, in all your days journey toward kindness, sobriety, humility, patience, perspective, contentment, faith and serenity. It is not a punishment, rather it is plain logic: darkness cannot exist in the light.
5:22-23 Life is sustained, created and encouraged by love, joy, peace, perseverance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. So through these things sustain, create and encourage life.
5:24 Through this philosophy of life and faith which Jesus brought came our ability to overcome darkness. He dropped the breadcrumbs and walked the path to ensure its safety. He established us, fortified us against distraction.
5:26 We can almost imagine Paul expressing frankly this last sentence of chapter 5 in a slow release of hopeful breath: Let us not live frivolously... there is so much life offered to us, waiting for us to participate in, contribute to and benefit from.
5:17-18 As Paul told the Corinthians above, you cannot divide your faith or the intention of your life. Unless you are focused, you are distracted. Seems simple right? Unless you are focused every day, in every moment and thought and action, you are distracted. Soul and body battle each other. We each crave and desire things. We each sometimes have selfish or impatient, maybe even unkind thoughts. What matters is that we do not give those moments of weakness the power to come alive.
Matthew 6:24 reminds us that we cannot be divided in thought. If we believe in something we must promote, defend and exemplify it throughout the course of our lives. We cannot be hypocrites: what we think, say and do must be united. We cannot be both greedy and charitable. If we are constantly working to encourage the charitable side of ourselves, we have chosen. And it counts. We are not perfect, on earth we cannot completely eliminate our fallibility but if we are trying, we are winning.
5:19-21 Works of the flesh, works of selfishness spawn ugly qualities within us. Instead journey toward these opposites, in all your days journey toward kindness, sobriety, humility, patience, perspective, contentment, faith and serenity. It is not a punishment, rather it is plain logic: darkness cannot exist in the light.
5:22-23 Life is sustained, created and encouraged by love, joy, peace, perseverance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. So through these things sustain, create and encourage life.
5:24 Through this philosophy of life and faith which Jesus brought came our ability to overcome darkness. He dropped the breadcrumbs and walked the path to ensure its safety. He established us, fortified us against distraction.
5:26 We can almost imagine Paul expressing frankly this last sentence of chapter 5 in a slow release of hopeful breath: Let us not live frivolously... there is so much life offered to us, waiting for us to participate in, contribute to and benefit from.
