We’ve been surrounded by pink and red hearts over the past several days, and I pictured all those Valentine’s Day decorations as I read Galatians 5:6. “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (NIV) Not following the letter of the law. But faith in Jesus. Love is an expression of our faith in Jesus! Another giveaway to our faith is our freedom: freedom from sin, freedom from the Law, freedom from a condescending, judgmental religious spirit.

Paul is very direct with his appeal to stand firm. To the Galatians, the yoke of slavery was circumcision—an outward expression of living under the Law of Moses, obeying every letter of the law. Paul said that if they let themselves be circumcised—In other words, if they took on the requirements of the Law, then Christ would be of no value. For believers today, Paul’s direct appeal is not about circumcision, it is about trying to be justified by the law, which alienates us from Christ and causes us to fall away from grace.

We are made righteous by our faith, not our adherence to a list of dos and don’ts. Christ set us free to live free from the yoke of trying to be good enough to earn our way into God’s good graces. Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled to God, and in Jesus, the dos and don’ts have no value. Obedience to the law has no value. Looking religious and holy and perfect has no value. The only thing that does have value is our faith Jesus. Our firm conviction that Jesus set us free from the law of sin and death. My friend, don’t take on the heavy yoke of perfectionism, instead thank God that Jesus has set you free.

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This week’s scripture: Galatians 5:1-6