As we slowly move verse by
verse through the book of Galatians, we are soon to realize through
the words of Paul the apostle the emphasis that not only he is
putting upon the grace of God but also how God is using Paul to share
the importance of His message as well. God is a God of grace, and His
grace is received through faith. Because people, we, were not able to
keep the law, God devised a different plan that could bring us into
relationship with Him. By offering His Son Jesus as a perfect
sacrifice for our sins, our sins have been forgiven, and when we
believe in Jesus Christ and His finished work, God's grace, His
“unmerited favor”, comes upon us. Otherwise, we still live under
the law, as Paul reminds us in chapter three and verse twelve where
he wrote:
And the law is not of
faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them.
Paul has
just said that “the just shall live by faith”, and now he
declares, “And the law is not of faith.” Contrary to
belief in the finished work of Jesus, attempting to keep the law is
works oriented, and the person trying to keep the law puts his or her
trust in themselves. There is no faith in Jesus to try to keep the
law, and if laws are somehow kept, self-righteousness is the best one
may hope to accomplish. The futility of an endeavor to keep the law
will only reveal one's lack in ability to keep it.
Paul
adds, “but, The man that does them shall live in them.” Hour
by hour and day by day the person who attempts to keep the law
“lives” within the law's boundaries. How much should we do of
this, or what shouldn't we do of that? How far can we go before we
are breaking the law here, or how far can we go before we break the
law there? These are prison-like rules that govern the person who is
attempting to keep the law. By endeavoring to keep the law, the
person undertaking such a feat is bound moment by moment to every
action, thought and attitude. There is no rest in spirit, mind or
body for the person who pursues keeping the law.
Are we
at rest within the grace of God through Jesus Christ? Is our life
troubled by an attempt to keep this rule or that? Have we come to
fully appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf to give
us rest from the law and peace within His grace? As we meditate upon
Paul's words today, may we realize that to live within the law is not
of faith, for if we attempt to live within the law we only invite a
curse upon ourselves. God, our Gracious Heavenly Father, has provided
for us a way to live that no longer incurs a curse, but rather opens
up a life that is liberating and free. May we live within His
wonderful grace.
Next time we will
study how Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law, so read ahead,
and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it
locally
at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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