Standards of Life

Galatians 6:11-13  ¹¹ Look at the large letters I’m making with my own handwriting! ¹² Whoever wants to look good by human standards will try to get you to be circumcised, but only so they won’t be harassed for the cross of Christ. ¹³ Those who are circumcised don’t observe the Law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised, so they can boast about your physical body. 

This is nearing the end of the letter to the Galatians and Paul is giving a reminder we all should follow. There will be times when we will want to try to please people, for the sake of being accepted by them. Children, teenagers and adults are no different in this area. We all have the desire to be accepted by certain people or certain groups. But Paul is looking at the motivation of the groups or people who make us try to do things so we “fit in” with their crowd.

We see this all of the time; all we have to do is watch any TV show, movie or look at group initiations. There seems to be something we have to do in order to be like the people we want to join. But these are all “human standards.” These standards will change over time based upon the culture and the people in leadership. This is one reason why it is not good to try to meet human standards.

So now we should ask, “what have you done to try to fit into a group or get certain people to like you?” If we look back at some of our past actions, we can see that we live with the wrong motivations at times. Human standards will change; but God’s will and standards do not change. God is asking that we live holy, set-apart, lives and to be people who love God and love people. This should be our standard of living.

If we love God then we can see Him in all aspects of our lives and we will meditate on His word and actions. We will remember how merciful and patient God is with us which will cause us to be humble around other people and show compassion. Each one of us have lived lives that show we do not love God as much as we say we do; but God is always with us and has never nor will ever leave us. Just because we forget at times who we are really living for, doesn’t mean that we can’t get back on the path.

When we love God with our entire lives, we will begin to truly (not conditionally) love people. We can then see the incredible potential each person has and the giftedness God has placed in their lives. We will also see, with compassion, the brokenness each person has and do what is necessary to walk with that person or people in the manner they need.

This way of life is not to impress other people, or even to impress God. We live this life because this is how we are called to live. Called to be in relationship, not isolation. Called to serve and love God with all of our lives. There are many people who think this way of life is not right, not cool, etc; but we do not live life to impress other people, or show off how “good” we are. We live life in this manner because we are FREE to. This freedom that Jesus Christ gives is incredible motivation to do what we are called to do and be who we are called to be.

#LiveFreeInChrist