A Life Worthy

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 Monday, 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 in redemption for just the physical children of Abraham, and let the rest of us serve as a 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 Thursday, 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 Tuesday, Beloved.

So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith  (Galatians 3:9).

If you made an appearance in Scripture, how would you be referenced?

I think “The Man of Faith” is pretty great.

Go Abraham.

Beloved, you may not be specifically written into the Bible, but your name is clearly written in another important God book–

The Book of Life.

You know, that book in which the Lord of the Universe records the names of those who are eternally, irrevocably his.

Pretty important book–and you’re in it.  Maybe even in bold font, though I can’t confirm that.

So, remind me again why you have trust issues?

And by you, I mean we.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham (Galatians 3:7).

Father Abraham

Had many sons

Many sons had Father Abraham.

I am one of them

And so are you

So let’s just praise the Lord!

This song, with the accompanying hand and foot motions and giggling, is about all I remember from eight-year-old Michael’s  first and rather unproductive visit to Sunday School.

Well, this song and the raging fistfight that broke out between two of the other little boys.  All and all, I decided that I’d rather be home watching Popeye and Friends, hosted by Tom Hatten.  Now to be fair, it wasn’t just Popeye.  They also showed Tom Slick, George of the Jungle, and Super Chicken.  In between cartoons, Tom took squiggles that kids mailed in and turned them into amazing cartoon drawings.

Aaaand…that totally beat learning about God as a way to spend my Sunday mornings.

Ah,  Michael.  Such a spiritual young man.

But I remembered the song.  And years later, when a slightly matured Michael learned about our adoption as Sons of God and becoming heir to the promises of eternal life, it clicked.

I am a child of Abraham

even though I’m not

because I believe.

Not because I do

Not because I earn

Not because I accomplish

Because I believe

As you head into Wednesday, hang onto that, ya?

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.