Devotional - June 26, 2024
Scripture: Galatians 3: 12-14 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” (Lev 18:5). Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole." (Deut 21:23). He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
When I think of the first statement in this text, I think about parking the car. If you are in the city and want to park your car, you may find free parking for a limited amount of time, maybe two hours. After that, you have to move the car or be fined. Or, maybe you find parking that is metered. You feed the meter a few quarters and your time allotment appears on the dial inside the machine. You follow these laws because you don't want to get fined or even worse, towed. It's not because of your relationship with the city or person monitoring the meter. By doing it you remain a good law abiding citizen and avoid getting a ticket. Everyone is happy. If you want to be a good Torah (law) abiding Jew, then follow the laws and again everyone will be happy. Paul says no. Maybe that was the prevailing way of thinking, but not now. Through that kind of thinking one could learn about the law, but it did not bring them into a close relationship with God. It would be through their relationship with God that they would get the needed insight to understand the Law and the Prophets, both of which, being necessary to recognize the Messiah. No relationship, then no understanding or recognition. Now, for both the Gentiles and the Jews their relationship with God is based on what God did through Jesusu Christ. Both now can have the relationship necessary to live Godly lives. And even if the Law could have saved a person, honestly, no one could follow it to the letter anyhow (Romans 3: 23-24). Only Jesus could do so, and He is the One who bore our curse, our judgement, on the cross. When we truly come to understand this and take it in, hard as it is to bear, we understand how much God loves us. Our response to that amazing revelation is our desire to abide more and more with God (1 John 4:19). We seek to follow God's instruction and ways because we love the Lord. The very same thing happens when we want to be close to another. We abide by their ways, their rules, so we can have a good relationship with them. The focus is not so much on the rules as it is on the person and the relationship; so too it is with our relationship with God.
Pray with me.., Holy God may our hearts be open to all that you do for us on a daily basis. Help us to receive what You have given. We are thankful for it. Hear us as we pray for loved ones and seek Your blessing upon them. May Your blessing be upon our church as we seek to be Your people in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
