Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
--Galatians 4:7 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on June 23, 2013 of Psalm 111; Galatians 4:1-20; 2 Kings 9-10:17.
The fourth chapter of Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia opens with a comparison of a child to a slave, even if that child is the heir to a great house, because the child is under the constant control and watchful eye of guardians and stewards until the child has grown into adulthood (or at least the age of majority for their culture). Paul then relates this to how we are children in our faith, young and inexperienced spiritually, and under the control and influence of what Paul calls the "elements of the world". For the Judaizers, Jews by birth, these elements would be aspects of Mosaic Law. For the Gentiles, the elements are more likely their original heathen gods, carved of wood or stone or cast from precious metals. In either case, the elements Paul refers to are whatever we give ourselves up to as slaves. In many ways we are too often like the children Paul speaks of, in bondage to some element of our culture, something man-made or man-derived, something not God.
And then, Paul says, when the time was right, God the Father sent His Son, His Heir, into the world, born of a woman, raised as a faithful Jew, fully in compliance with the Law of Moses. And then the amazing gift. Jesus redeemed all who had previously been under the law, in bondage to these elements, so that we could be adopted by God. And once adopted by this selfless act of our Lord, we become co-heirs with Jesus to the greatest house of all -- the kingdom of heaven. And because we are now His sons and daughters by adoption, God has sent the Holy Spirit, the "Spirit of His Son", to dwell within us. So now Paul tells us in today's focus verse that we are no longer slaves -- neither to Mosaic Law or requirements to do good works, nor to idols we create to fill the gaps we had before Christ and the Spirit entered our lives -- but are now indeed heirs of the one true God.
But then Paul wonders why the members of the Galatia churches no longer act like heirs to Paradise, but have turned back and are following what the Judaizers tell them, observing the law, in bondage once again. We need to ask ourselves the same question. If we truly believe we are the adopted children of God redeemed through Jesus Christ, why don't we act like it? Nothing should hold us in slavery to it. Nothing should interfere with our worship and praise of God our Father and Jesus our Brother. We are the heirs of God. Let's act like it. Amen.
Father, Abba, Daddy, because of our faith and belief in Jesus as Your Son and our Lord and Master, He has redeemed us and You have adopted us into Your most holy family. Thank You, Father, for this most wonderful and gracious gift. We were lost and alone, and You took us in and treat as Your own. Jesus claims us as His. No more could we ever ask for. Please, Lord, may nothing ever prevent us from worshiping You and offering praise in Your holy name. In the beautiful name of Jesus our Brother we pray. Amen.
And then, Paul says, when the time was right, God the Father sent His Son, His Heir, into the world, born of a woman, raised as a faithful Jew, fully in compliance with the Law of Moses. And then the amazing gift. Jesus redeemed all who had previously been under the law, in bondage to these elements, so that we could be adopted by God. And once adopted by this selfless act of our Lord, we become co-heirs with Jesus to the greatest house of all -- the kingdom of heaven. And because we are now His sons and daughters by adoption, God has sent the Holy Spirit, the "Spirit of His Son", to dwell within us. So now Paul tells us in today's focus verse that we are no longer slaves -- neither to Mosaic Law or requirements to do good works, nor to idols we create to fill the gaps we had before Christ and the Spirit entered our lives -- but are now indeed heirs of the one true God.
But then Paul wonders why the members of the Galatia churches no longer act like heirs to Paradise, but have turned back and are following what the Judaizers tell them, observing the law, in bondage once again. We need to ask ourselves the same question. If we truly believe we are the adopted children of God redeemed through Jesus Christ, why don't we act like it? Nothing should hold us in slavery to it. Nothing should interfere with our worship and praise of God our Father and Jesus our Brother. We are the heirs of God. Let's act like it. Amen.
Father, Abba, Daddy, because of our faith and belief in Jesus as Your Son and our Lord and Master, He has redeemed us and You have adopted us into Your most holy family. Thank You, Father, for this most wonderful and gracious gift. We were lost and alone, and You took us in and treat as Your own. Jesus claims us as His. No more could we ever ask for. Please, Lord, may nothing ever prevent us from worshiping You and offering praise in Your holy name. In the beautiful name of Jesus our Brother we pray. Amen.
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