Category: A Life Worthy

Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!  For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law (Galatians 3:21).

If

If you could have earned it, God would have let you.

He knows you like to do stuff, to accomplish things.

He wants you to work hard and make things happen in your world.

He’s not trying to take anything away from you.

But this…

It’s just too much.

It can’t be done.

That’s not a challenge, Beloved.

It’s a fact,

and you don’t have to prove yourself,

you just have to accept him.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

The law was put into effect by angels through a mediator.  A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one (Galatians 3:19-20).

Moses was God’s mediator to Israel.  

No pressure there.

He was the go-between for the two sides of the agreement. And it was a two-party agreement, an “If you…then I” sort of thing.

“If you honor me, then I will honor you.”

“If you follow me, then I will bless you.”

“If you disobey me, then I will squish you.”

But God’s covenant with Abraham was not a two-party agreement. He did not demand anything from Abraham in return for his blessing.  He simply made the promise.

A promise, by the way, that applies to you, remember?  

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit…

Yeah, that part.

So, Beloved you are a recipient, not a participant.  The promise is yours, no strings attached.

So…don’t attach strings, OK?

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come (Galatians 3:19).

Kids need boundaries.

Look around.  Just about every law we have in place is designed to curb some foolish and/or evil desire of Man.  From speeding to slaughter, it’ll happen unless society says “No.”

And sometimes even if we do.

Oh, you can argue with the number of laws we have, or how restrictive they are, but the fact is that anarchy is a launching pad for evil.  We just can’t handle total freedom.

God, being God, knew that, and gave his people the law.  It worked to keep sin under a measure of control until Christ arrived.

I don’t know what boundaries God has placed in your life today. Maybe they’re financial, or relational, or career, or even physical. You probably chaff under those limitations the same way I chafe under mine.  So here’s a thought: What say we look at these restrictions as God-given boundaries, provided, not imposed, given for a purpose and with all the wisdom and love that the Lord of the Universe has for us.

Until, you know, the time of the Promise has come.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise (Galatians 3:18).

It doesn’t depend on the law.

By extension–it doesn’t depend on your observance of the law.

By extrapolation–it doesn’t depend on you.

By implication–you have no control of it.

So Beloved–is that freeing

or frightening?

Happy Friday, Beloved.

What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise (Galatians 3:17).

The promise is where it began.

The promise is where it will end.

The law had value, and served its purpose, but law was never intended to be your master.  You have only one Master, one Lord, one King, and he chooses not to crush you with Law, but to lift you with Grace.

If you’ll let him.

So…um..you know…let him.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life.  Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in  this case (Galatians 3:15).

Some years ago, my family was involved in a legal situation.  I won’t give any details, lest I become involved in another legal situation.

If you get my drift.  

Suffice to say that all parties met with attorneys and mediator people, and left the room with a common understanding and a signed agreement,

which lasted for a day.

Then, one of the parties called to say that they had not understood the intent or details of the agreement, even though they signed a legal document stating that they understood the intent and details of the agreement.

Back to square one.

So, not to disagree with Paul, but I’m figuring contracts were a bit more iron-cladical in his day.  In any case, the point stands: God made a promise, and that promise is not going anywhere.  Our covenant is not with fickle man, but with faithful God.  And he’s not about to call you back and say he didn’t understand what he was signing.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit (Galatians 3:14).

He could have kept it a private group.

You know–like on Facebook.

God could have kept the whole salvation thing between himself and the Jews.  He could have locked redemption in for just the physical children of Abraham, and let the rest of us serve as colorful background to the divine drama.

He could have.

But he didn’t.

It would have been so much simpler.  I’m in a place these days where life is busy and complicated and I am always on the lookout for ways to simplify.  The idea of opening up the plan to bring in all the teeming masses of icky unclean folk like me, well it’s just not going to happen.

Fortunately for us all, The Lord of the Universe does not think like Michael.

Let’s call that Reason #35,026 to be glad that I’m not God.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hung from a tree.” (Galatians 3:13)

He didn’t just pay the price.

He was the price.

And all I can say is…thank you.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”  (Galatians 3:11)

Oy

If only he had said, “The righteous will live by rules.”

Rules are things I can quantify

and measure

and obey  even if I don’t really believe them.

Rules I can follow

or fake.

I can go through the motions while my heart is busy elsewhere.

This faith business…it takes away pretty much all of my power.

OK, what do you mean, “That’s the whole point?”

Happy Friday, Beloved.

All who rely on the law are under a curse, for it it written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”  (Galatians 3:10).

God:  Storm’s coming.  Take my hand.

Me:  No worries.  I can swim.

God:  Yes, but this is a hurricane. You can’t swim in this.

Me:  Actually, I’m really good.  

God:  Not this good.  I’m talking about 100 foot waves that never stop.

Me:  I’ll be fine.

God:  You’ll die. Take my hand.

Me:  I won third place in the Camp Shoobedoobe Summer Swim-Off.

God:  You’re not strong enough.  No one is.

Me:  I have to do this on my own.  

God:  Take my hand.

Me:  Ooh, cramp!  Push through it…push through it!

God:  Take my hand.

Me:  No thanks, I’m…gurgle gurgle glug.

Sound familiar?

Trust me–your floaties won’t get you there.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.