Spend time in prayer and silence with God, asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises are spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in His grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. What then was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if the law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would have certainly come by the law. But the scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
– Galatians 3:15-25
Devotion
God called Abraham and promised to make him a blessing to the world. He made him a blessing to the world through Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham. Christ is the One who brings salvation to the world. Paul makes the point that God does not go back on His promises. The law was given later to point us to Christ. The purpose of the law was not to earn favor with God by keeping it. Its purpose was to show us we couldn’t keep it, and therefore point us to our need for Abraham’s Seed (Jesus). The law was given to reveal, not remove, sin. The purpose of the law is to bring people to Christ—not give them an expanded chest so they can walk around claiming they keep the law.
The Big Question
Do you view the Mosaic Law any differently after reading the third chapter of Galatians? How has this chapter impacted your thought processes concerning salvation? How might your understanding of GRACE impact the way you live your life?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on what God revealed to you today.