Verse: Galatians 3:1-6
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Thoughts
I was at lunch with a couple friends recently. He's a highschool teacher, and while we were eating a parent of one of his old students came in. They talked briefly and it was a pleasant exchange. Then about 30 minutes later I went to pay the bill, and they said, "It's already been paid!"
His friend had paid our bill! And guess what? They wouldn't let me pay it again.
I mean, why would I, right?
This is what Paul is talking about in these verses. He's chastising the Christians in Galatia for going back to trying to earn salvation from God. The salvation from God is a free gift and we can do nothing to earn it. And yet we try still, don't we?
We all do it in our own ways. We think God will feel better about us, or we'll be more accepted by him:
"I've done lots of good works lately."
"I've read my Bible a lot lately."
"I'm a more moral person than most people I know."
We think that our performance will earn us extra benefit from God. But the deal is, this was never about our performance. It's about Jesus. What he wants is our hearts.
We believe in his free gift, and like Abraham, it is "credited" to us as righteousness.
Today, maybe you are trying to earn God's acceptance, favor, or love. Maybe you need to hear that God already fully loves and accepts you. You can't do anything to make him love you any more, or any less. Just like at the restaurant, you can't pay for what God has alrady paid for in full.
So lean back, and receive his love today. Stop striving, and start living in the love God has already given to you.
Prayer
I pray that you would draw near to me in your love today!