Galatians 4:1-3 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹ I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.

In the same way. How important it that for use to grasp? We may have come to Christ at a ripe old age but in this Kingdom life, we are beginning all over again. We went through the playground yesterday and allow me to follow those thoughts with grammar school.

Grammar school is where we learn to talk. Kingdom living has its own language and definitions which do not necessarily align themselves with that of the world. Many accuse us of Christianese as if it were a foreign language and perhaps in practice it is just that. If we are going to learn what it means to live this abundant life in Christ we need to learn how to talk to one another.

Ephesians 4:15, 25 (ESV) ¹⁵ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ²⁵ Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Speaking the truth in love requires two primary elements, to know truth and know how to love. Note in verse 15 where it says we are to grow up in every way. Grammar school is where we get to learn the truth and how to speak. This is where we get to practice the lessons of agape love. Agape love is perfect and we are not. It takes practice.

Galatians 5:13 English Standard Version (ESV) For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Love in this verse is agape, God’s perfect love. We are in this family of God and yet we live in the world at the same time. Practicing agape love happens in the family of God. The freedom I spoke of yesterday has everything to do with developing the abiding love of God as a shared experience. First within the family of God and then to the world. In the family you will find that agape love is reciprocal. The world will not reciprocate. It cannot because it does not have His abiding love.

That does not relieve us of the responsibility of sharing agape love. We so often fall back into worldly attitudes when in the world and withhold agape love because we deem others unworthy. We were unworthy and that did not stop Jesus from loving us perfectly. Jesus said if we got to know Him we would know the Father.  Can we say the same through our demonstration of love in the world?

We are set free to love. Love of the flesh does not demonstrate Christ.

John 8:12 English Standard Version (ESV) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Matthew 5:16 English Standard Version (ESV) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Does our acts of love glorify God?

Let your light shine does not mean that you are the light, it means He abides in you. Letting it shine only means that we are not to allow our flesh to get in the way of letting it be seen.