“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” Galatians 3:6-7
It is not the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who are the children of Abraham but those who share in the faith of Abraham and are counted righteous by God through faith in Jesus, the Messiah and Savior promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Grant that I trust in Your promises of forgiveness and life in Christ Jesus, O God, that I may be counted righteous by faith, as was Abraham, our spiritual father. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. … And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.” Isaiah 1:11,15
God does not desire sacrifices and religious service from those who are impenitent and continue in their wicked ways. He will not accept their worship or hear their prayers. He desires that we repent of our evil ways and look to Him for mercy in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, His Son and mankind’s only Savior. Only when we repent of our sins and trust in Christ will God accept our worship and hear our prayers.
Grant that I see my sinfulness and disobedience to Your Word, O LORD, and move me to repent and look to You for mercy and forgiveness in the atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus for the sins of the world. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21
To add requirements of the law to the gospel message of forgiveness and life eternal through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice is to oppose and nullify the grace of God. If the way to be righteous in God’s eyes is by obedience to the law, then why did God send His Son to fulfill all righteousness for us and then die in our stead as a sacrifice to atone for our sins?
Grant that I trust in Christ alone for my salvation, O God, and not look to my own faulty works under the law. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:19-20
God’s perfect law condemns us all to eternal death and damnation because of our sins. But Christ Jesus, in our stead, suffered our lawful punishment that we who trust in Christ might be counted dead to the law (since our punishment was meted out upon Christ) and alive to God (being raised up with Christ from the dead). The life we now live in this world we live by faith in Christ as our Substitute, who loved us and gave Himself for us.
O gracious and merciful God, grant me pardon and forgiveness in Your Son’s atoning sacrifice in my stead. And grant that I live my life by faith in Christ, alive from death and free of condemnation, to serve You in the confidence that You accept me as Your dear child for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.” Isaiah 1:2-4
As it was in the days of the prophet Isaiah, so it is today. The LORD created us and gave us life and every blessing, but we do not recognize Him as our Maker and God. Instead of looking to Him and His Word, we have turned aside from Him and His ways to fulfill the selfish and sinful desires of our hearts. We have forsaken the LORD, corrupted His word, and provoked Him to righteous anger.
Have mercy upon me, O God, and move me to repent of my evil ways and look to You for pardon and forgiveness in the shed blood of Christ Jesus on the cross. In His name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
