“But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.” Galatians 4:8-11
Before hearing and believing the gospel of forgiveness and life eternal through faith in Christ Jesus, people served false gods of their own imagination through earthly rituals and rites, such as observing certain days, certain seasons, certain foods, and other man-made religious practices. Why would we, after receiving, through faith in Christ and His cross, pardon and forgiveness and the promise of eternal life, go back to trying to serve God with such weak and elemental practices? To do so is to lose the true faith and God’s blessings in Christ.
Grant that I trust in You alone, O Christ, and not trust in man-made religious works and rites for my salvation. Amen.
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:1-3
Sadly, many people are also deceived today. They hear the Word of God, and the Spirit leads them to trust in Christ Jesus and His cross for pardon and eternal salvation; however, they foolishly turn back to the law and traditions, relying on their own works to be acceptable in God’s sight.
Graciously keep me in the true and saving faith, O Lord, and grant that I not rely on my own works under the law but on the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus, my Savior. In His name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity, and revive me in Your ways.” Psalm 119:37
The ways and things of this world are vanity and emptiness; it is foolish to look upon them with desire. The way of the LORD is life; we pray that God would graciously show us His way and give us life in communion with Him through faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Grant that I not desire the things of this world, O Lord, but desire You and the life in Christ Jesus revealed in Your Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? By no means. How shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2
Many assume they can continue to live in their old sinful ways and still be Christians. The Bible’s answer is clear: “By no means. How shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” True Christians do not willfully continue to live in their old sinful ways because they are saved by grace alone and not by their works. Rather, true Christians trust in Christ alone for salvation but then, as a fruit of genuine faith in Christ, seek to amend their sinful ways and live for “him who died for them and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15).
O sanctifying Spirit, grant me true faith which trusts in Christ alone for forgiveness and life and then produces the fruits of a God-pleasing life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised Common Version of the Bible.]
