On What Do You Rely?

Daily Reading: Galatians 3

Scripture Focus: For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” (Galatians 3:10)

Devotional Thought: In Galatia, many Christians were attempting to combine Judaism with Christianity – legalism with grace. Paul would have none of it! As he says in verse 3, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” In other words, either the sacrifice of Jesus is enough to cover your sins, or you will be held accountable to every letter of the Law on the Day of Judgment.

The Law was given because of our sinful nature. It “imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (v.22). Before, we were slaves, but now through faith in Christ we are sons and daughters of God. Jesus came to live the perfect life that we could not live, died the death that we deserve, and then showed his lordship over death and sin – then and only then could the Law be perfectly satisfied and our salvation secured.

Do we live as the Galatians at times? Do we insist that everyone around us conform to our ideas of what it looks like to be a Christian? Do we only associate with people who look like us or act like us, afraid to embrace those new to the faith and needing discipleship? It is true - there is absolute right and wrong, and sin should be addressed. But there will also be times when we must lay aside our differences, as Paul encouraged the Galatians to do, to unite in the Spirit as the body of Christ – each one of us justified by grace through faith alone.

Jenny

Prayer: Lord, help us to understand that nothing we can do could ever be enough to save us. It is only through your Son’s sacrifice that we have hope. Bring us together; unite us in your Son’s holy name.

Psalm of the Day: 1 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. (Psalms 95:1-5)