Monday, February 20
Promise and blessing
Scripture: Galatians 3
Galatians 3:8–9 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer.
Galatians 3:14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
Observation
The Galatian Christians were abandoning the gospel of Jesus to return to the law of Moses. From grace back to law. Paul argues that the gospel actually pre-dates the Mosaic law and was first given to Abraham (see Genesis 12:1-3). All people were to be blessed in Abraham. That blessing came through Jesus, and all who believe in Jesus (Jew and Gentile alike) share the blessing of Abraham the believer. Thus Paul calls them back to faith in Jesus as the way to experience the promised blessing.
Application
In my other reading plan (see below), I’m currently reading Leviticus. The past week was about all the sacrifices; today was about clean and unclean animals, and rules regarding ceremonial cleanness for a mother after giving birth. I read all this and am so grateful that Jesus fulfilled the law and offers us life without that burden. I can’t imagine still having to make all those sacrifices, keep all those regulations about clean and unclean.
I’m grateful for Jesus, for grace, for living by faith in Christ rather than thousands of rules.
And I love that our faith is characterized by the key words of this chapter: gospel and blessing and promise. Our faith really is good news about God’s promises and blessings available to all who believe, who trust him. Too many Christians have made our faith seem like bad news that focuses on other’s failures rather than good news that focuses on God’s promises and blessings in Christ.
Today I want celebrate the good news of God’s promises and blessings. “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (Romas 1:16)—indeed, I’m proud of it!
Prayer: I love you Jesus and I am so grateful for the promises and blessing that you bring to my life. I love the good news. Give me opportunities to share it today!
More: Leviticus 11-12, Psalm 22, Acts 27