RUNNING THE RACE
Galatians 5.77. "You were running well, who hindered you from obeying the truth?"
This is very interesting expression of Paul than he compared missionary work to a sport of running and boxing. Actually it could be any sport, but the point is that it is a race. We have many missionaries in this world but not everyone among them is a good missionary. Actually, everybody who truly believe in Christ and follow His Spiritual Commandments can be a missionary and spread Gospel wherever he or she goes.
But the most important thing is to be the first to come to finish line in your missionary work as it is important to any athlete who participating in sport's competition. Life is very short just like race itself and limited by time, and so, the athlete (missionary) has to give everything he of she got in order to finish the race first before time expires, and receive his/her reward. For ordinary athlete it will be a medal, but for Spiritual athlete - the missionary, it will be the Eternal Life and high position in Heaven among the angels of GOD.
~ 7. *Run the race: (1Corinthians 9.24-27) (Galatians 2.2).
LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW
Galatians 5.13-14
This words of Paul never stop amazing me, particularly the first part of this statement, "The whole Law is fulfilled in one Word...you shall love..." (14). (Romans 13.8) (Galatians 5.14.22-23).
As indicated in (1Corinthians 13.13), Love is the highest above all Spiritual Qualities and Love also a combination and storage of all Spiritual Qualities what only exist, and so, one who possess true Love for GOD is fulfill the entire Law!
It actually makes perfect sense. GOD is Love, and He gave the Law to people because of many transgressions of humankind (Galatians 3.19), in order to guide them to Him - to Love, to bless them, and to save them.
So, whoever has Love for GOD and His Laws and obeys His Commandments out of Love for His Words, already fulfill the entire Law, the Ritual Law and Spiritual Law, and join the Lord in Spirit of Love.
Those who Love do not need the written Law to guide them, because whoever Loves GOD and His Statutes has the Law written in his/her heart (spirit) and such a person lives now according to his/her Spiritual Law and not according to the written Law.
~ 13-14. Love your neighbor, alien, stranger, and love one another: (Leviticus 19.18.34) (Deuteronomy 10.19) (Proverbs 25.21-22) (Matthew 5.43-44, 19.19, 22.39) (Mark 12.31.33) (Luke 10.27-28) (John 13.34, 15.12-13) (Romans 13.9-10) (Galatians 5.14) (James 2.8) (1John 3.10-11, 4.7-8.11.21) (2John 1.5).
So, the point is that whoever loves GOD also loves and his neighbor, and whoever loves his neighbor loves GOD Who created him.
When we imitate GOD in His Love, we become Spiritual like Him and become One with Him.
Matthew 5.45
45. "in order that you may be sons of your Father Who is in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Luke 6.35-36
35. "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
36. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful."
Paul ends his Epistle with final words of true wisdom, "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires."
