GALATIANS 3:25

“But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”

As I grew up in Southwest Georgia, I was under the direct care and supervision of Jack and Mack Willis. Yep, those were their names. Jack was a nickname for James and Mack was short for Maxine. As their son, I was expected to obey their rules. I didn’t always like their rules (why couldn’t I have cookies for breakfast?) and didn’t always follow them. I knew they meant good by all the rules, but because they were rules, they were meant to be broken, right? At least I thought so.

I love this short but powerful verse today. It simply says faith trumps law. When the early believers, who were used to following the rules of the Law, came to Christ, they were set free. No more restrictions on food. No more rules about what they could and couldn’t do on the Sabbath. They were free because Jesus had satisfied the Law. Paul had felt that himself and wanted everyone who struggled under the heavy weight of the Law to be set free.

APPLICATION

Let me ask you a question. What is it you feel compelled to do in your effort to please God? Name one thing. Did you know the only thing the Lord requires of you is repentance and acceptance of His free gift? Romans 6:23 says so. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Now, who doesn’t want a free gift?

Stop struggling to try to “do” for Jesus. Just “be.” Be like Him. Be holy as He is holy. Be free to live a life that honors Him. Just be. As a Baptist I can tell you that I tried for years to do things. I felt compelled to grab that celestial golden ring. It can’t be done. When I learned to rest in Him, I started living for Him. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Now, do I do certain things as a believer? Yes, I have my daily Quiet Time. I read the Word. I pray. I give to the Body of Christ. But now I do those things out of love, not out of obligation. There is nothing I can do to gain my salvation. And now that I have it, there is nothing I can do to lose it. I am free at last. Are you?

Our freedom in Christ, O God, gives us the ability to live for You. Thank You.