Church, Discipleship, and Missions

What the Law Can’t Do: Year Two, Day 270 Devotional

Passage: Galatians 3:1-4:20
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 79

Galatians 2:21

²³But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. ²⁴Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. ²⁵But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. ²⁶For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

The Law points us to Jesus. We receive Jesus by faith, just as Abraham believed God and was counted as righteous. When we place our faith in Jesus, we are spiritual descendants of Abraham. No matter our background, we become one of God’s people. The Law can’t save us, but Jesus can and does.

Father, thank You for adopting us into Your family through salvation in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 79:13 (NASB)

So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture
Will give thanks to You forever;
To all generations we will tell of Your praise.

When the Church Preaches the Wrong News: Year Two, Day 269 Devotional

Passage: Galatians 1-2
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 78

Galatians 2:21

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

One may think adding a rule or two, as the Galatians had done, is a harmless addition or perhaps needful to keep believers in line. But Paul considered such legalism as no gospel at all. Paul made it clear that the gospel is the good news of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Keep us faithful to believe and proclaim the true gospel.

Psalm 78:38-39 (NASB)

But He, being compassionate, forgave their wrongdoing and did not destroy them;
And often He restrained His anger
And did not stir up all His wrath.
So He remembered that they were only flesh,
A wind that passes and does not return.

Psalm 77 Reading: Year Two, Day 268 Devotional

Passage: Catch up by reading through the end of 2 Corinthians
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 77

Psalm 77:1-2 (NASB)

My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud;
My voice rises to God, and He will listen to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
In the night my hand was stretched out and did not grow weary;
My soul refused to be comforted.

Delight in Weakness: Year Two, Day 267 Devotional

Passage: 2 Corinthians 12-13
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 76

2 Corinthians 12:10

Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

As Christians, we don’t have to avoid our weaknesses. Instead, we should embrace them because it is in our weaknesses that we experience the power of God. Instead of hiding them, we should call attention to them so that others can see God’s glory.

Thank You for giving us strength when we are weak.

Psalm 76:4 (NASB)

You are resplendent,
More majestic than the mountains of prey.

Avoid Deception: Year Two, Day 266 Devotional

Passage: 2 Corinthians 10-11
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 75

2 Corinthians 11:3

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

The gospel is simple, and so is devotion to Christ. Following Jesus takes effort, but there is nothing complex or secret about it. False teachers tend to make both complicated with either complex rules or secret paths to a deeper life with God. We must not be deceived.

Lord, thank You for the simplicity of the gospel.

Psalm 75:9 (NASB)

But as for me, I will declare it forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.