November 6, 2011 (Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3-4)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” Galatians 3:3 NLT
Observation: The Galatian believers had become fascinated and deceived by the false teachers’ arguments, almost as though an evil spell had been cast on them. They had taken a step backward in their faith when they insisted that the Jewish Laws must be kept. Paul reminds them that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone. We don’t, nor can we, earn salvation by keeping the law. We are not made right with God by our ability to keep the rules, we are made right with God by faith, and faith alone. We strive to keep the commandments of God, not to win His favor, but because His favor is upon us. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are given a new nature, a nature that longs to please God.
Application: Christ didn’t come to do away with the Law, but rather to fulfill it. The Law was meant to reveal our sins to us; it did then, and it still does today. Our works do not save us, and contrary to popular belief, our works do not save others either. It is faith in Jesus Christ that saves. It is by His Spirit that we are molded into the people God wants us to become. Keeping a list of do’s and don’ts doesn’t make one “more saved” than others. However, being obedient to God’s standard of holiness does make God well pleased with us. God is pleased when His children, because of their great love for Him, choose to be obedient to His standards. It is by His Spirit that we have the ability to please Him, not of ourselves.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your word that reproves, rebukes, corrects and instructs me. Give me wisdom to know what’s right and the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. Thank You for Your strong right arm that fights for me and wins! Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me every day. In Jesus name, Amen!