“For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” Galatians 5:6
When I was first learning about Christianity, I went to youth group mainly for the advice. I did not necessarily believe in God, but I did believe I wanted to be a good person. I thought that if I was a good person, the odds of a god letting me into heaven were high because I took care of others and treated people nicely.
Trying to be perfect was exhausting. I was not only attempting to make the people around me happy, but I was also searching for my own happiness. I thought that if I helped people, I would feel a sense of purpose. Instead, I felt tired and drained. I found that being a perfectly good person was impossible. I was more so a robot that served others rather than a human BEING.
Galatians 5:6 says, “For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.”
Paul is saying that it is not what we do but who we know that is the important thing. I was missing the key secret to being a good person: Love. I can only share love if I have experienced it.
Faith in God, knowing Him and having a relationship with Him, has filled my heart with a burning passion to love others well. Following rules and trying to be perfect in meeting everyone else’s expectations does not compare to the love that flows from the passion of knowing God and His love for us. We are after all human BEINGS, not human DOINGS.
Ask yourself right now, are you trying to be perfect for God? Or are you filled with a passionate love you can’t help but share with everyone around you? Today, take some time and ask God to truly know His passionate love. If you are feeling overwhelmed by expectations and pressure, you are missing the freedom that comes from living out of the fullness of God. It is our faith-led passion that moves us to love others well.