Good News-Freedom in Christ

So through God, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir. (Galatians 4:7)

Gal. 4:1-7, 5:1 and 13, 6:11-16; Rom. 8:11-17; Phil. 2:15; Heb. 1:14; I John 3:1

What Is God Saying?

During the early years of the Church, there was a conflict between those who believed that obedience to the Law was the way to earn salvation and those who saw salvation as the gift of God's grace, received by faith alone. The problem was real and serious. It was present in nearly every church where there was an amalgam of Jewish and Gentile Christians. This created a problem for the new converts from the Gentile world. They were bewildered by this addition to the simple Gospel. To encourage them and to direct them called for Paul's prompt attention and clear teaching. Galatians focuses on the power and the saving grace of God through Christ. Read it bearing in mind the glory and simplicity of the Gospel.

• Ponder the validity of the Gospel (Gal. 1:1-2:21 ).

• See the superiority of the Gospel (Gal. 3:1-4:31).

• Rejoice in the freedom of the Gospel (Gal. 5:1-6:18).

We need not be in bondage any longer to the Law. We have been given what we could never earn. As children of God, we have the status of a family member and the riches of a true heir.

How Does This Apply To Us?

Galatians 1 proclaims liberty in Christ and by Christ. It is a living letter that rings out the truth that we are free to be and free to become all that God wants His family to be. Not bound to meritorious works but heirs to infinite riches. Freedom is a gift. It is ours to keep. Nevertheless, we are called upon to stand fast in the freedom Christ has brought to us (Gal. 5:1), and ‘to walk by the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:16).

Pray With Me

Father, by Your grace and in the sending of Your Son, I have been freed. That is good news, not to be in bondage to unworthy thoughts, not to be controlled by insistent habit, not to be haunted by a guilty conscience. When I was under the Law, I tried to be good so You would love me. I often felt depressed because, trying so hard, I failed so often. It was bondage. It held me down. It hemmed me in. It chained my spirit. It was misery.

Then came Jesus. He came into my life and redeemed me from the feeling that I must barter with God. He saved me from saying, "Lord, I'll be good if You're nice to me." My motivation changed from having to be good to wanting to be good because I am loved. I am part of the family and never apart from the family.

Redeemed is the word. Not only am I brought back from the misery of trying to be good and seldom succeeding, but I have also been lifted into the position of Your child.

I cannot comprehend this grace, but I do accept it. I don't have to be good, but I want to be good. I don't have to fulfil the Law to stay in the family, but I want to fulfil the Law to show that I am in the family.

To the glory of Christ Jesus with whom I am joint heir to the riches of God. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

Let freedom be our dominant thought in coming to prayer, in offering prayer, and leaving prayer.

• Free to be ourselves.

• Free to ask anything.

• Free to come back from careless living.

• Free to enter the outstretched arms of a waiting Father.

• Free to make mistakes in speaking to God, for He understands what we say even when it doesn't come out right.

• Free to ask for the wrong things if we are willing to have them filtered through the Father's will.

• Free to love God and free to reach out in love to others.

• Free to enjoy the stillness of His presence.

• Free not to rush ahead but to linger behind with Him who is always ahead.

• Free to give God the reins and to take the reins when in His wisdom He gives them to us.

Prayer is breathing the air of freedom is wonderfully free.