Verse: Galatians 3:9-10
So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
Devotion
Paul started a church in Galatia where many had faith that Jesus came, died for their sins and rose again. Others, after Paul left, told the new Christians that they also had to follow many of the Jewish rules listed in the Pentateuch, the first five books of our Old Testament. Here Paul is writing a letter to them to explain that all they need is faith. He is using Old Testament scripture to justify this position.
In Genesis 12:3, God says to Abraham that “all people will be blessed through you” and your faith in God. Not just the Jews, but everyone including the Galatians and us. Then, in the next verse, Paul quotes Deuteronomy 27:26 about being cursed if you don’t DO EVERYTHING, all the written laws. The curse is a separation from God because eventually you will sin and break a law. So, do you wonder then, how do we square this with Psalm 119:1 and Psalm 1:1-2 which say that those that follow the law are blessed?
Paul isn’t saying that the laws are bad. Just that following the laws mechanically without a foundation of faith does not bring you into a right relationship with God. The reason is that God is totally good and you can’t be. We cannot follow all the laws perfectly such that God sees us as righteous. We are only made clean by Jesus’ death that atoned for our sins. Once we accept and have faith that we are saved by His sacrifice, then we will want to do good works.
Rather than seeing Biblical rules as the way to God, we should see them as the way to a better life. They are rules for living successfully. The rules can’t be idols. We will often fall short. But as we continue to grow in our faith and maturity in the Lord, deepen our love for Him, and become more like Jesus, we will be able to see the blessings that come from doing what He wants us to do.
Prayer
Jesus, we praise you for all that you have done for us. We don’t deserve your gift of freedom from sin and of life eternal with you. But we accept it again today and have faith that you will be with us today and always. We love you and ask that we can participate in what you are doing to love others around us.
Author: Brad Dunn
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