The Prime Directive

African proverbLiving in the Spirit
June 9, 2016

Scripture Reading: Galatians 2:15-21

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! –Galatians 2:15-17

Laws exists to bring order out of chaos, to identify actions and activities that promote the Common Good into becoming universal practices. Thus, laws are fluid, they are adjusted to changing times and circumstances. Laws about where to hitch our horses may still be in statute but have, in general, been rendered unnecessary. Whereas, how, where, and how long we park our cars is very important. Whether we follow a law depends on many things. Some of us just do it automatically, others seek what they can get away with, and still others apply laws more practically based on the current situation.

God’s laws may be described in the same manner with the one exception that such laws are based in our relationship with God. Based in the sure and certain knowledge that we are each loved by God and that our best expression of response to that love is loving God in return and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. This raises the pursuit of the Common Good to a higher plain where our decisions become interdependent. Love rules. We are called to become a majority who lives like Jesus lived, loves like Jesus loved,and moves the world toward wholeness in the process.

It is indeed a call to move mountains when we feel like tiny ants, each trying to move a piece of sand. God’s call to wholeness can only be fulfilled by God’s grace that serves as the sinew knitting us all into one Body with the guidance of the Holy.

Prayer: Lord, help us as a society to work together to assure the Common Good for all in response to your prime directive to love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights
reserved