It is really amazing the way that God made us. Our God-given conscience is so powerful and always at work. In one moment we enjoy the freedom afforded us that allows us to live, love, and laugh without guilt, shame or remorse in perfect harmony with God’s holy law. Then, we stumble, fall, and sin and our temptation is to ‘make up for it’ and try to convince ourselves and God that we can somehow for a season not offend His law and live trying to do so. But, we can’t (unless we are controlled by the indwelling Spirit of God). Instead He beckons us to confess our sins (agree with Him about it), receive complete forgiveness and cleansing, and live in freedom from the penalty and power sin and the law have over us. The hard part is we have to drive out the slave woman (attempts to relate to God by law) and instead live as children under the promise grated to the free woman.
And you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time the son who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, so it is even now. But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.” So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman. Galatians 4:28-31 NASB
How can I grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus today?
God, as this day begins- I am dependent upon You and You alone. I accept by faith the forgiveness of sin You offer. I choose to relate to You as a child of the free woman and release the guilt and temptation to be justified by my own actions and keeping Your Holy Law. Instead I will allow the Spirit of God to transform me from the inside out into the person You desire me to be. On a very important note, I pray for my friend Ubong in custody. I pray first for his release, second for my involvement, and third that he will shine with the light and love of God in such a difficult place (ICE custody and detention center).
