“To be risen with Christ means not only that one has a choice and that one may live by a higher law – the law of grace and love – but that one must do so.” – Thomas Merton

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Listen to my song “I Stand in the Light” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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Galatians 3:5

Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works mighty deeds among you do so from works of the law or from faith in what you heard?

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St. Paul loses his temper with the Galatians who were converts to Christianity.

They apparently were putting more emphasis on carrying out the law over faith and the Spirit.

He actually starts off this passage by saying, “O stupid Galatians!”

At least, that’s the translation!

This issue continues to this day.

Many people still have difficulty with tempering the law with the freedom of the Spirit to do as she pleases.

At times Jesus would break the religious laws when love demanded it such as when he allowed his hungry followers to pick the grains in the field to eat on the Sabbath, something the law prohibited (Matthew 12:1-8);

Or when Jesus healed a man “with a withered hand” on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6).

We have to work to overcome the hardwiring in our brains that leads us to immediately separate things into either this or that.

It’s the dualism that corners us into a “black or white” world where there is no gray area in between.

We need the law to set certain boundaries so there is not anarchy, but we also need to be open to allowing the Spirit to direct us when instead of an “either–or” conclusion, there might be a better “both–and” one.

It’s really all about what the Spirit is asking us to do so that compassion and mercy are not lost.

The Spirit is available for all who ask.

As Jesus put it: “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him? (Luke 11:13)”

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Listen to the song of the day “I Stand in the Light” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!