Lead Me to Christ!

Daily Reading: Galatians 3

Scripture Focus: The law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3.24)

Devotional Thought: In this chapter, Paul is trying to convince the Christians in Galatia that they are not bound to the Jewish ritual laws.  In relating his rebuke of Peter, Paul wrote in Galatians 2.21, (NIV), “If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”  That certainly was a very sobering moment for Jewish Christians.  Paul doesn't let up.  He keeps going, calling the Galatians foolish and shortsighted for relying on the law to obtain righteousness.

How often do we do the same thing?  We don’t follow laws on ritual purity and dietary codes, but do we have our own list of our behaviors that will justify us in the eyes of the Lord – tithing, praying, reading our Bibles?  I’m not saying these things are bad; in fact they are wonderful disciplines and acknowledge God’s blessings, show our gratitude, and declare his lordship over every area of our lives – our time, our money, our very thoughts.  But, when these acts become more about justifying us or proclaiming our own righteousness, then they become stumbling blocks, blinding us to our need for a Savior who can cover us with his righteousness.  Paul’s point is simply this:  We cannot save ourselves, no matter how good we are, how disciplined, how self-sacrificing.  Even the most devout will fall far short of God’s holiness. 

When we are tempted to boast of our own holiness, let the Old Testament law remind us of how very short we fall of God’s standards.  We need Jesus.  The law was always pointing to him; it was “to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith” (v. 24).  Righteousness before God can only be obtained by covering every inch of ourselves with Christ’s righteousness instead.

Jenny

Prayer: Lord, you are my only hope of salvation.  I put my trust in you completely and in you alone.  Thank you that your grace is sufficient!  Lead me to Christ, O Lord! Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 97.8-12

8 Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O LORD.

9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.

10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!