Text
“The sinful nature wants to do what is evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us the desires that are opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intensions” (Galatians 5:17, NLT).
Insight
Two opposing forces stir desires in my life. These forces “are constantly fighting each other.” The sinful nature produces desires to do evil creating and erratic compulsions that lead me towards a trap. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit produces desires designed to lead me in love and towards freedom.
I have no control over whether or not I experience these desires. They come and go. I do, however, have a choice in how I respond to them.
Paul reveals that I have two choices when it comes to responding to the desires of the sinful nature: Gratify or Crucify. When I choose to gratify the desires of the sinful nature the results are a life that “will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (5:21). When I crucify these desires I live free to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
I also have two choices when it comes to responding to the Holy Spirit: Follow or Squander. When I follow the desires of the Holy Spirit, He produces the fruit of the Spirit in my life… I serve others and love others as myself. However, when I squander the leading of the Spirit I forfeit a satisfying and fulfilling encounter with Him.
How should I respond? Nail “the passions and desires of the sinful nature to his cross” and crucify them there. Live by the Spirit and follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of your life (5:24).
Prayer
Father, I choose to crucify the desires of my sinful nature! Also, I choose to follow the desires and leading of the Spirit. Thank You for giving me the freedom in Christ to choose. In Jesus name, AMEN.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Use Your Freedom
Text
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13, NLT).
Insight
How are we to use this freedom we have in Christ? Is this freedom given to us as a license to act and behave any way we want? Is it so we can indulge our sinful nature without consequence? Is it God’s way of turning His head and saying… Oh, boys will be boys… and simply overlooking our wrongs? Absolutely not! Paul writes in Romans, “Don’t you realize that you become a slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living” (Romans 6:16, NLT).
Paul challenges us to use our freedom (not to indulge ourselves, but) to “serve one another in love.” The greatest expression of freedom in Christ is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (5:14). We are free to consider others and their needs ahead of our own. WHY… because God has considered our needs and met them in Christ. We can focus on others and be free from the fear of lack. God supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
So, the next time the Holy Spirit puts the desire to serve someone in your heart… follow it. Refuse to debate yourself out of it asking all these “What if” questions. God’s got your back. It’s the whole reason He set you free in the first place. Who is in your life that you can serve? Whose your neighbor and are you loving them as yourself… You are free!
Prayer
Father, thank You for setting me free to love and serve others. Open my eyes to the need of those around me. Help me to walk free from the What If’s in the certainty of Your provisions. In Jesus name, AMEN.
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13, NLT).
Insight
How are we to use this freedom we have in Christ? Is this freedom given to us as a license to act and behave any way we want? Is it so we can indulge our sinful nature without consequence? Is it God’s way of turning His head and saying… Oh, boys will be boys… and simply overlooking our wrongs? Absolutely not! Paul writes in Romans, “Don’t you realize that you become a slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living” (Romans 6:16, NLT).
Paul challenges us to use our freedom (not to indulge ourselves, but) to “serve one another in love.” The greatest expression of freedom in Christ is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (5:14). We are free to consider others and their needs ahead of our own. WHY… because God has considered our needs and met them in Christ. We can focus on others and be free from the fear of lack. God supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
So, the next time the Holy Spirit puts the desire to serve someone in your heart… follow it. Refuse to debate yourself out of it asking all these “What if” questions. God’s got your back. It’s the whole reason He set you free in the first place. Who is in your life that you can serve? Whose your neighbor and are you loving them as yourself… You are free!
Prayer
Father, thank You for setting me free to love and serve others. Open my eyes to the need of those around me. Help me to walk free from the What If’s in the certainty of Your provisions. In Jesus name, AMEN.
Freedom WARNING
Text
“Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: if you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you” (Galatians 5:2, NLT).
Insight
Paul warns believers about the impact their belief system on everyday life. Why a warning… Because a person can forfeit the benefits accomplished by Christ. Believers can cut themselves off from Christ and fall away from the practical application of God’s grace in daily life.
We jeopardize our benefits in Christ and the application of God’s grace when we are behavior focused versus faith focused. The two extremes of being behavior focused are: What I do does NOT matter and What I do DOES matter. When we say what we do does NOT matter we subject ourselves to bondage. This is a misunderstanding of grace and a selfish indulgence of our sinful nature. When we say what we do DOES matter… ie can make us right with God or cause us to be rejected by God… this is self-righteousness and bondage to the law.
What is important and central is faith that expresses itself in love (5:5). Its our faith that gains us access to God’s grace and the benefits of Christ. We believe that Christ has accomplished a right standing with God and offers it to us as a free gift. To receive this blessing brings freedom. We are free from the bondages of trying to earn a righteousness from God and free to receive all the benefits we could not earn on our own.
“So, Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law” (5:1). Keep your focus on Him and all he accomplished for you.
Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Your Son. By faith I receive all that Christ has accomplished for me. Help me to stay focused on faith and not on behavior. In Jesus name, AMEN.
“Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: if you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you” (Galatians 5:2, NLT).
Insight
Paul warns believers about the impact their belief system on everyday life. Why a warning… Because a person can forfeit the benefits accomplished by Christ. Believers can cut themselves off from Christ and fall away from the practical application of God’s grace in daily life.
We jeopardize our benefits in Christ and the application of God’s grace when we are behavior focused versus faith focused. The two extremes of being behavior focused are: What I do does NOT matter and What I do DOES matter. When we say what we do does NOT matter we subject ourselves to bondage. This is a misunderstanding of grace and a selfish indulgence of our sinful nature. When we say what we do DOES matter… ie can make us right with God or cause us to be rejected by God… this is self-righteousness and bondage to the law.
What is important and central is faith that expresses itself in love (5:5). Its our faith that gains us access to God’s grace and the benefits of Christ. We believe that Christ has accomplished a right standing with God and offers it to us as a free gift. To receive this blessing brings freedom. We are free from the bondages of trying to earn a righteousness from God and free to receive all the benefits we could not earn on our own.
“So, Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law” (5:1). Keep your focus on Him and all he accomplished for you.
Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Your Son. By faith I receive all that Christ has accomplished for me. Help me to stay focused on faith and not on behavior. In Jesus name, AMEN.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Eagerly Awaiting
Text
“But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us” (Galatians 5:5, NLT).
Insight
In Galatians, what does it mean to “live by” the Spirit? It means to trust in, rely on and count on the Holy Spirit. It is in contrast to trusting in and counting on our ourselves. Paul states it this way, “If you are counting on circumcision… If you are trying to find favor with God… If you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law” in comparison to “we who live by (count on, rely on and trust in) the Spirit.”
What are we relying on and counting on the Holy Spirit to do in our lives? We believe that He is applying the righteousness of God into our lives. Practically speaking, this means that the Spirit is applying all that Christ has accomplished and all that Christ IS into our daily life. The attitude and actions of Christ… His love, joy, patience, self-control… is being gradually poured into me. So my behavior is being molded and transformed by the Spirit… not my best intentioned self improvement projects.
Why do we have to “wait”? Now that’s a good question… On the one hand I “eagerly” desire to act like Christ. But on the other, I am bound to the gradual, lingering… waiting… as the Holy Spirit works Christ into me. Honestly, I’m not sure exactly why God decided to work it this way. Perhaps because it causes me to daily draw near to Him for all I need. So, while I wait, I daily draw near thanking Him for all He has promised. Today, I “eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness of God.” How about you?
Prayer
Father, thank You for the promise of the Holy Spirit. I patiently trust that the attitude and actions of Christ are being applied into my life. Holy Spirit lead me. Continue to give me the desires that produce the fruit of the Spirit. In Jesus name, AMEN.
“But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us” (Galatians 5:5, NLT).
Insight
In Galatians, what does it mean to “live by” the Spirit? It means to trust in, rely on and count on the Holy Spirit. It is in contrast to trusting in and counting on our ourselves. Paul states it this way, “If you are counting on circumcision… If you are trying to find favor with God… If you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law” in comparison to “we who live by (count on, rely on and trust in) the Spirit.”
What are we relying on and counting on the Holy Spirit to do in our lives? We believe that He is applying the righteousness of God into our lives. Practically speaking, this means that the Spirit is applying all that Christ has accomplished and all that Christ IS into our daily life. The attitude and actions of Christ… His love, joy, patience, self-control… is being gradually poured into me. So my behavior is being molded and transformed by the Spirit… not my best intentioned self improvement projects.
Why do we have to “wait”? Now that’s a good question… On the one hand I “eagerly” desire to act like Christ. But on the other, I am bound to the gradual, lingering… waiting… as the Holy Spirit works Christ into me. Honestly, I’m not sure exactly why God decided to work it this way. Perhaps because it causes me to daily draw near to Him for all I need. So, while I wait, I daily draw near thanking Him for all He has promised. Today, I “eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness of God.” How about you?
Prayer
Father, thank You for the promise of the Holy Spirit. I patiently trust that the attitude and actions of Christ are being applied into my life. Holy Spirit lead me. Continue to give me the desires that produce the fruit of the Spirit. In Jesus name, AMEN.
Sign Posts and Guard-Rails
Text
“Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sin” (Galatians 3:19, NLT).
“Let me put it to you another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be make right with God through faith” (Galatians 3:24, NLT).
Insight
The law was not given as a way by which we could be made right with God. “If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it” (3:21). The fact is there is only one way to freedom: “By believing in Jesus Christ” (3:22).
The purpose of the law was to function like a sign post. It was designed to point people to God. So, when we look into the mirror of the law, we see how we have failed and sinned. We realize that we have not and cannot obey it. It shows us our sin and points us to God. When we look into the law we conclude we need God; His mercy and salvation.
Also, the law acts as a guard-rail. It protects us from running into the ditches of life. When we rub up against or sometimes slam up against the guard-rail, we realize we are going in the wrong direction. We need to repent… turn around… and head back onto the path of righteousness.
The law was designed to function for a limited time… “until the way of faith was revealed” (3:23). Christ came to fulfill the requirements of the law and offers His blessings and righteousness to all who believe in Him. In Him we live by the law of love that brings life and in Him we are set free from the law which brings the curse of sin and death.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the law… For I would not have known what was right and wrong except You show me. When confronted with my failure to meet the requirements of the law, help me to run to You, not from You. Protect me from the deceptive paths that will lead me into ruin. In Jesus name, AMEN.
“Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sin” (Galatians 3:19, NLT).
“Let me put it to you another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be make right with God through faith” (Galatians 3:24, NLT).
Insight
The law was not given as a way by which we could be made right with God. “If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it” (3:21). The fact is there is only one way to freedom: “By believing in Jesus Christ” (3:22).
The purpose of the law was to function like a sign post. It was designed to point people to God. So, when we look into the mirror of the law, we see how we have failed and sinned. We realize that we have not and cannot obey it. It shows us our sin and points us to God. When we look into the law we conclude we need God; His mercy and salvation.
Also, the law acts as a guard-rail. It protects us from running into the ditches of life. When we rub up against or sometimes slam up against the guard-rail, we realize we are going in the wrong direction. We need to repent… turn around… and head back onto the path of righteousness.
The law was designed to function for a limited time… “until the way of faith was revealed” (3:23). Christ came to fulfill the requirements of the law and offers His blessings and righteousness to all who believe in Him. In Him we live by the law of love that brings life and in Him we are set free from the law which brings the curse of sin and death.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the law… For I would not have known what was right and wrong except You show me. When confronted with my failure to meet the requirements of the law, help me to run to You, not from You. Protect me from the deceptive paths that will lead me into ruin. In Jesus name, AMEN.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Keep On Keepin' On
Text
“In the same way, ‘Abraham believed God and God counted him as righteous because of his faith’” (Galatians 3:6, NLT).
Insight
It is clear that God works in us and among us because we believe… Not because we are flawless. If God only worked miracles and accepted us when we acted flawlessly, well, he wouldn’t work at all.
Genesis 15:6 tells us that Abraham believed God and because of this active trusting in His promise… God considered Abraham as flawlessly right in His sight. Daily Abraham made a choice to trust the promise of God. I am sure some days it was easy to trust God for the promises that were to come. But, on the other hand, I’m sure some days Abraham had to determine to keep on keeping on believing. Perhaps these were the days when everything around him seemed to give him reason not to believe. It was an active daily choice to trust. And “the real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their (daily) faith in God” (Galatians 3:7, “daily” is added).
Romans chapter 4 tells us “Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping.” He chose to believe God would bring to pass what He said. “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In face, his faith grew stronger… He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises” (Romans 4:20, 21). Imagine that… a faith that grows in the face of hopelessness.
You can be assured that God will also count you as righteous as you believe and trust in Him. Reaffirm your trust in Him daily especially when doubt and discouragement are trying to set in. Focus on God’s promise and allow your faith to grow strong even to the place of being fully convinced.
Prayer
Father, I trust You. Today I reaffirm that my hope is in You. Thank You for the example of Your servant Abraham and how he kept on believing, did not waver and grew strong in his faith. Strengthen my faith as I focus on You and what You are able to do. In Jesus name, AMEN.
“In the same way, ‘Abraham believed God and God counted him as righteous because of his faith’” (Galatians 3:6, NLT).
Insight
It is clear that God works in us and among us because we believe… Not because we are flawless. If God only worked miracles and accepted us when we acted flawlessly, well, he wouldn’t work at all.
Genesis 15:6 tells us that Abraham believed God and because of this active trusting in His promise… God considered Abraham as flawlessly right in His sight. Daily Abraham made a choice to trust the promise of God. I am sure some days it was easy to trust God for the promises that were to come. But, on the other hand, I’m sure some days Abraham had to determine to keep on keeping on believing. Perhaps these were the days when everything around him seemed to give him reason not to believe. It was an active daily choice to trust. And “the real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their (daily) faith in God” (Galatians 3:7, “daily” is added).
Romans chapter 4 tells us “Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping.” He chose to believe God would bring to pass what He said. “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In face, his faith grew stronger… He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises” (Romans 4:20, 21). Imagine that… a faith that grows in the face of hopelessness.
You can be assured that God will also count you as righteous as you believe and trust in Him. Reaffirm your trust in Him daily especially when doubt and discouragement are trying to set in. Focus on God’s promise and allow your faith to grow strong even to the place of being fully convinced.
Prayer
Father, I trust You. Today I reaffirm that my hope is in You. Thank You for the example of Your servant Abraham and how he kept on believing, did not waver and grew strong in his faith. Strengthen my faith as I focus on You and what You are able to do. In Jesus name, AMEN.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Preserve the Truth
Text
“But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the Gospel message for you” (Galatians 2:5, NLT).
Insight
The fact is… the enemy wants to keep us enslaved to a rule-keeping, trying harder and driven to impress approach to life. He is not happy about your freedom in Christ and wants to reduce you, kidnap you and pull you back into an old and ineffective belief system. We must be like Paul: “determined to preserve the truth” (Galatians 2:5, NLT).
The enemy uses all kinds of old tactics to trick us. Things like fear about our reputation or for provision. He tries to get us hung up about our appearances and driven to impress others. He gets us focused on behavior and not our Savior. We get off track and spend life’s energy trying to be good, control our environments, to win approval and feel good about ourselves.
Peter struggled with this. At times he was driven to impress others and appear important. This was fueled by a fear of the opinions of man. Peter struggled with a desire to be approved, praised and accepted. These fears led him astray and pulled him away from following the truth and freedom. Eventually, he even mis-led others.
We need God’s strength to refuse to give into similar pressures. Let’s preserve the truth. Be determined to walk in freedom. Get rid of the need to impress and live by appearances. Live in this body by trusting in the Son of God, who loves you and gave himself for you (Galatians 2:20).
Prayer
Father, I want to preserve the Truth in my life. I want to walk in freedom. Strengthen me to walk free from the fear of man. Help me to avoid the enemy’s traps. I will refuse to give in. In Jesus name, AMEN.
“But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the Gospel message for you” (Galatians 2:5, NLT).
Insight
The fact is… the enemy wants to keep us enslaved to a rule-keeping, trying harder and driven to impress approach to life. He is not happy about your freedom in Christ and wants to reduce you, kidnap you and pull you back into an old and ineffective belief system. We must be like Paul: “determined to preserve the truth” (Galatians 2:5, NLT).
The enemy uses all kinds of old tactics to trick us. Things like fear about our reputation or for provision. He tries to get us hung up about our appearances and driven to impress others. He gets us focused on behavior and not our Savior. We get off track and spend life’s energy trying to be good, control our environments, to win approval and feel good about ourselves.
Peter struggled with this. At times he was driven to impress others and appear important. This was fueled by a fear of the opinions of man. Peter struggled with a desire to be approved, praised and accepted. These fears led him astray and pulled him away from following the truth and freedom. Eventually, he even mis-led others.
We need God’s strength to refuse to give into similar pressures. Let’s preserve the truth. Be determined to walk in freedom. Get rid of the need to impress and live by appearances. Live in this body by trusting in the Son of God, who loves you and gave himself for you (Galatians 2:20).
Prayer
Father, I want to preserve the Truth in my life. I want to walk in freedom. Strengthen me to walk free from the fear of man. Help me to avoid the enemy’s traps. I will refuse to give in. In Jesus name, AMEN.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Reveal
Text
“But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles” (Galatians 1:15 – 16, NLT).
Insight
God wants us to know Him and experience His love, forgiveness and grace. It pleases God to reveal Himself to us. He delights in unveiling His love to us, opening His grace, exposing His mercy, laying bare His compassion and disclosing His faithfulness! He longs to be found.
When God reveals Himself to men it gives us purpose. It helps us understand that God has called us and chosen us for Himself. We are no longer seeking to define our lives by what is around us: What we have, What we do, Who we know… Rather, life is defined by Who is in us and what He’s done for us. And our daily purpose becomes partnering with Him to reveal His love through His Son to everyone.
So, if God reveals, what hides? Sin hides… It darkens our minds so we don’t comprehend His love. It blinds our ability to see His grace. It makes us deft to hear His Message of mercy and forgiveness. It hardens our harts from loving Him and others.
That said, God invites us saying, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3, NKJ). By His Spirit, God will reveals “the wonderful things He has freely given us” (1 Corinthians 2:12). He reveals Himself through His Word.
So, call out to your God. He will answer you and show you mighty things. He delights in revealing the wonderful things he has given us.
Prayer
Father, give me power and ability to understand and receive “how wide, how long, how high and how deep” (Ephesians 3:18) is Your love for me… So that, I might experience the love of Christ and be progressively made more like Him. In Jesus name, AMEN.
“But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles” (Galatians 1:15 – 16, NLT).
Insight
God wants us to know Him and experience His love, forgiveness and grace. It pleases God to reveal Himself to us. He delights in unveiling His love to us, opening His grace, exposing His mercy, laying bare His compassion and disclosing His faithfulness! He longs to be found.
When God reveals Himself to men it gives us purpose. It helps us understand that God has called us and chosen us for Himself. We are no longer seeking to define our lives by what is around us: What we have, What we do, Who we know… Rather, life is defined by Who is in us and what He’s done for us. And our daily purpose becomes partnering with Him to reveal His love through His Son to everyone.
So, if God reveals, what hides? Sin hides… It darkens our minds so we don’t comprehend His love. It blinds our ability to see His grace. It makes us deft to hear His Message of mercy and forgiveness. It hardens our harts from loving Him and others.
That said, God invites us saying, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3, NKJ). By His Spirit, God will reveals “the wonderful things He has freely given us” (1 Corinthians 2:12). He reveals Himself through His Word.
So, call out to your God. He will answer you and show you mighty things. He delights in revealing the wonderful things he has given us.
Prayer
Father, give me power and ability to understand and receive “how wide, how long, how high and how deep” (Ephesians 3:18) is Your love for me… So that, I might experience the love of Christ and be progressively made more like Him. In Jesus name, AMEN.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
God's Plan
Text
“Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live” (Galatians 1:4, NLT).
Insight
Our loving Father implemented His plan… For He so loved us, His creation, that He could not stand for us to be apart. So, He “called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ” (1:6, NLT). His plan provided the Way.
God understood our problem. Sin separated us from God. It took advantage of us and brought spiritual death (Rom 7). Empowered by law, “sin used what was good to bring about… condemnation to death” (Romans 7:13). Paul relates the problem this way, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong, it is the sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:15 – 17, NLT).
God’s plan rescued us from the problem of sin. The core of God’s plan was giving Jesus’ life for our sin in order to rescue us from this evil world. His life rescued us from the power of sin so that we might live for God and not just ourselves. “All glory to God forever and ever” (Galatians 1:5).
There is only one plan; therefore, guard yourself from turning away from God by following a different plan. Any other plan is only pretending to be the Good News. Don’t be fooled by anyone or any plan which twists the Truth.
Prayer
Father, thank You for rescuing me from this evil world and from sin. Thank You for giving Your life for me. Guard me from turning to any other plan than Your Good News. All glory to You, forever and ever. In Jesus name, AMEN.
“Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live” (Galatians 1:4, NLT).
Insight
Our loving Father implemented His plan… For He so loved us, His creation, that He could not stand for us to be apart. So, He “called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ” (1:6, NLT). His plan provided the Way.
God understood our problem. Sin separated us from God. It took advantage of us and brought spiritual death (Rom 7). Empowered by law, “sin used what was good to bring about… condemnation to death” (Romans 7:13). Paul relates the problem this way, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong, it is the sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:15 – 17, NLT).
God’s plan rescued us from the problem of sin. The core of God’s plan was giving Jesus’ life for our sin in order to rescue us from this evil world. His life rescued us from the power of sin so that we might live for God and not just ourselves. “All glory to God forever and ever” (Galatians 1:5).
There is only one plan; therefore, guard yourself from turning away from God by following a different plan. Any other plan is only pretending to be the Good News. Don’t be fooled by anyone or any plan which twists the Truth.
Prayer
Father, thank You for rescuing me from this evil world and from sin. Thank You for giving Your life for me. Guard me from turning to any other plan than Your Good News. All glory to You, forever and ever. In Jesus name, AMEN.
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