Devotional - July 24, 2024
Scripture: Galatians 4: 8-10 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
Our religious faith is near and dear to our hearts. Even one who barely embraces the tenets of their faith will react when told they have none. Regardless, Paul gets straight to the point. Paul widens his address to both the Jewish and Gentile members of the Galatian church. He emplores them, and us, to not forsake the intimate relationship we have with God through Christ. A relationship that allows us to call God Abba ( Father - Galatians 4:7). Nothing in all the Laws or traditions of either group could supersede what they, or we, have in Christ. When one observes the laws and the principles (the other word that can be used for "forces" in the text) of their faith. When they celebrate the seasons and festivals, it creates distance between them and God. They focus more on what they are doing rather than Who they are doing it for. How hard it must be for God to watch people pine away at their laws and traditions, in an effort to serve Him, and yet never actually turn to Him. However, when one lives their life abiding in Christ (Matthew 5-7 -seek to know the meaning of each teaching), one finds little time for anything else. Christmas or Easter services are magnified because they do so with God. How many of us remember being stuffed in the car on Christmas Eve in our good clothes on our way to church for the Candlelight service? The church was packed with folks we never saw, except on Christmas Eve, if then. The service was long. And finally, we returned home in hope of opening one gift before we went to bed. What happened during the service, who knows. What we do know is ...it was long, but the candles were nice. Folks, this is what I mean when I say, we go through the motions, but never encounter God. Many attend services hoping for forgiveness and hoping they will be in heaven when they die; that's it. Reason being, they think that's all there is. When they look around, that is all they see. Don't let that be you. Christ said He came, so that those who believed in Him would have life in abundance (John 10:10). Seek God to know what that means.
Pray with me..., Holy God how easy it is for us to allow ourselves to be separated from You. We go through the motions, but miss the relationship. Help us to simply stay in step with You. Bless our loved ones, we pray. And bless our church, that we may be the people you call us to be, in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
