The Only Thing That Counts

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Gal 5:6 NIV).

What is urgent for you? What is it that seizes and controls your daily imaginations? What do you long for––the basis of your satisfaction and your meaning in life? What motivates you and pushes the right button? What is the main thing you really deep down inside want? What can you not live without in order to be happy––content? What is your deep down inside “only thing that counts?”

Life is filled with perpetual choices. Our choices clarify and solidify our priorities. Our priorities form the foundation of our lives. We know from Scripture that what we choose to build our lives on and around is critical. The preferences we daily choose and live have temporal and eternal consequences. Paul tells us that there is only one urgency for the follower of Christ.  

The apostle tells us that outward signs of religious conformity are not essential. Legalistic compliance to certain rituals or religious practices will never produce a God-honoring life. Love does not come from law but from an abundance of grace.

Love produced from a vibrant trust in our Lord and Savior is what is necessary. A life lived in love is the imperative—that which is all important. All other priorities seen as the necessities of life must take second place. To fail to love from a heart filled with faith is to truly fail in that which concerns the essence of living a life that is pleasing to God. Humble trust which leads to self-giving love must be our life’s priority.  

For the apostle Paul the grace of the cross that is freely given and received by the undeserving is to bring a radical change to human relationships. Because of the cross a new foundation has been laid for relational flourishing. Faith lived in mutual love must be our daily imperative as we live in the atmosphere of measureless grace.  

Faith that is expressed in love lays an eternal foundation for our lives. Through the grace of the cross daily bestowed upon our lives our living faith which is given to us by a gracious God transforms us into loving people. Our lives become fruitful as we live by faith growing in the love of the Savior.     

In Paul’s mind the gift of salvation received and lived out in faith by many is always to lead to a loving community. Living faith––heartfelt trust in the One who gave his all for us––is to bring forth a vibrant love. Our faith is openly displayed for everyone to see by our sincere love for each other.

Living in the presence of immense grace and daily walking by faith has a powerful effect. Divine presence and daily trust renews the mind and heart. We are sanctified to love.

A living faith opens the heart to the love of Calvary. As we abide by faith in the Loving One his love becomes our love. Divine inexhaustible grace bestowed upon us empowers us to be faithful children of God, children who are learning how to love more and more.

For Paul this faith/love transaction is essential. For the follower of Christ this exchange is of utmost importance. As we bathe ourselves daily in heaven’s infinite grace, Our Loving Heavenly Father breathes love into our souls as we walk close to the One who sacrificed his all for us.

This God-honoring manner of life is to be our heart’s confession: “What is of utmost importance in my life is that by God’s boundless grace faith is expressing itself in love.” This spiritual enactment of a living faith through a sincere love is to be living testimony to watching eyes, of Calvary’s transforming grace. For the follower of Christ, a loving faith is “the only thing that counts.”