Passage of the Day:
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love, Galatians 5:1-6.
Reflection:
The Church at Galatia was infiltrated by a religious sect which attempted to make Christianity more Jewish. This group known as the Judaizers added stipulations to salvation, pressuring new converts who were Gentiles to become circumcised. This is the context to the apostle Paul’s message to Christians in Galatia. Being religious is following a rigid and strict set of rules on a daily basis. One of the reasons Jesus came was to set people free from the chains of sin. Like the image presented by Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, freedom through faith occurs when you experience rest for your soul.
Prayerful Action:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” Matthew 11:28-30.
Fueling your Faith this Spiritual Season:
The Bible refers to faith as a journey and a marathon. One of Paul’s motives for writing the Galatian Church was to find out what was preventing them as Christians from running a good race, Galatians 5:7. There are numerous environments and factors in your community, at home, or work which negatively impacts your faith. This is why it’s important to cast your burdens at the feet of Jesus in prayer. In worst case scenarios, you may have to alter and change relationships that are dragging you down. As Christians follow the advice King Solomon in Proverbs 27:17, your faith will be sharpened by interacting with godly men and women.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
Sometimes the obstacles to faith, trap Christians into a life and world that they never imagined. May the lyrics to House of their Dreams, give you hope that one day soon you’ll experience freedom through faith.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 