READ
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? 4 Did you experience so many things in vain?—if it really is in vain. 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
6 Thus Abraham “believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 7 So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had faith.
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for “He who through faith is righteous shall live”; 12 but the law does not rest on faith, for “He who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree”—14 that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:1–14, RSV2CE)
REFLECT
Are you deceived? Did you receive the Spirit because of your obedience to the law? Or by Faith in Jesus Crucified?
You began in the Spirit, why are you trying to go back to the law? Probably because it’s easier to check off boxes instead of listening and surrendering to the Spirit.
The Scripture foresees that people will live by the Spirit, not by legalistic obedience. If you’re under legalistic understanding you are torturing yourself. You cannot obey the law apart from the Spirit of Grace. You become obsessed with yourself and your actions and then depressed because it is impossible-cursed.
Christ redeemed us from the curse by taking it on. If you accept the faith, you are righteous in Him. If you accept the Spirit, you will live by faith and grace not law. The Spirit will guide and empower you to walk in obedience but not by checking off boxes, but by love and gratitude.
PRAY
I admit Lord, I have a hard time listening and surrendering. I like to check off boxes and have become distressed and depressed because the more I try the more I fail. It is a curse for sure. If I would just live by faith and surrender to grace I could be free. Please help me. Please keep reminding me I need you and your presence to walk me through all the minutes in my day. Thank you for wanting to be with me. I love you. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment