Read the Word:
Galatians 3:19-29
Meditate on the Word:
I spent many years thinking of the Bible as a big book of “thou shalt nots.” It seemed to be filled with hundreds of ways of displeasing God and being consigned to an eternity in hell. While a part of this may have been the preaching that I grew up hearing, I certainly cannot blame pastors exclusively for how I perceived the text. Their message was always consistent, “Turn from your sins and turn to the Lord.” This message is true and essential. What I got wrong in my youth was the focus on sin. It was overwhelming.
When, instead of focusing on sin, I focus on Christ, I can realize the freedom from sin that is expressed throughout the scriptures. It is easy to get into a legalistic focus on what we should avoid and to see ourselves in a minefield with every misstep being potentially fatal. But when the focus is on Christ, and what pleases Him, I stop focusing on the minefield and focus on following the One who will lead me through the minefield. The mines are still there; I am just not living in fear of them.
Paul was a student of the Law his whole life. He knew it inside and out. For him to conclude that it was a prison intending to guard us from sin until the arrival of Christ had to have been as shocking to him as to anyone. But the conclusion is simple. If, instead of focusing on what displeases God, we focus on Christ and follow Him, we will naturally lead lives that please Him. After all, it’s in our new DNA as children of God.
Pray the Word:
Ask our Lord today to help you to train your focus on Him.
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