Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free

In this week's Come, Follow Me studies, Paul reminds us that we should "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" and later teaches that being "called unto liberty" means we should "serve one another" and "love thy neighbour as thyself" (Galatians 5:1,13,14).

I've been pondering a lot lately what it means to be a Christian--a follower of Christ--and I think these teachings of Paul embody the core of this. The Book of Mormon gives us some great examples of standing fast in liberty and loving others (see Mosiah 23:13-15).

 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free…
 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Galatians 5

Be of One Mind

Paul's message of unity and peace ("be of one mind, live in peace") is applicable today and will lead to the love and peace that we and the world need.

Note that his counsel to "be perfect" in the ancient Greek carries the meaning to "be what you ought to be".  Let's not get discouraged if we are not yet Godly.  Jesus Christ will make that happen through his grace.  He says, "Come, Follow Me."  Let's do what we can and turn to him.

This is one of the things we've been ponderizing this week from the Come, Follow Me reading.

Be perfect,
be of good comfort,
be of one mind,
live in peace;
and
the God of love and peace
shall be with you

2 Corinthians 13:11

Peace, peace be unto you,

because of your faith

in my Well Beloved.

Helaman 5:47

Eternal Weight of Glory

I am grateful for the eternal perspective the Gospel gives us and the hope and peace it offers. Paul talked of this in his epistle to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) which reminded me of similar principles learned by the people of King Benjamin in Mosiah 5:3. We have been reading 2 Corinthians this week for Come, Follow Me.

we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come;
Mosiah 5:3

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Meet Together Oft to Partake

In this week's Come, Follow Me reading, Paul emphasized the importance of gathering to take the sacrament in remembrance of the Savior.  Regularly coming together for this simple act unites us and provides a common healing that we need in the divisive world.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians:  "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."  In in Moroni, we read that the members "did meet together oft to partake ... in remembrance of the Lord Jesus."

Moroni 6:
 5 And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.
 6 And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.

Be kindly affectioned one to another

I really appreciate Paul's teachings to the Romans (in Romans 12) regarding evil. He counseled us to abhor evil but at the same time encouraged us to overcome evil with good and to do good to and show kindness to all people, even our enemy.  I believe this is what the Savior would have us do, so I will strive to do the same.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12

And charity suffereth long, and is kind...
Moroni 7:45