Skip to main content

Lent Day 16


 Scripture Reading

Galatians 3:15-26


"What then was the purpose of the law?" According to Paul the Law serves to lead us to God. The Mosaic Law which includes the Ten Commandments was given to show them the need for the Promised Seed to come. The Promised Seed was Jesus. It is through Jesus that Abraham becomes a blessing to the whole world. 


The Law is like the signs at Six Flags that say you must be a certain height to ride this ride. If we don't keep the Law, which we can't because we are sinful, then we realize that we don't meet God's standard. So we need someone who can meet that standard for us. Because of Jesus' sinless life he was able to offer his life as a sacrifice for us who as sinners, deserve death. The Law was instituted by God to demonstrate our need for Christ. When we look at the Law and its requirements we realize that we have broken at least one of God's commandments and in most cases all of them (at least in our heart). God's plan with the Mosaic Law was for it to serve as a standard of righteousness that would point out our unrighteousness so that we would see the need for Christ in our lives. 


The key to this passage is understanding that God did not have two ways of saving people (an Old Testament way and a New Testament way). It has always been God's purpose to use faith in who Christ is and what he did to bring people into a right relationship with him. 


When you think about the Ten Commandments does it make you proud that you keep most of them or are you even more thankful for God's grace that sent Jesus to fulfill the Law so that we could have a relationship with God? 


Prayer: Father, thank you for the Law that you gave Moses so many years ago. Use it to continue to point out the sin in my life and my dependence on Christ. I praise you for your grace that you have freely given to me. May my faith rest in you alone. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sermon Soundtrack Vol. 3

 I've been listening to my usual eclectic variety of music the past few weeks. I did want to mention two new releases that intrigued me this week.  Penny and Sparrow released a new album, Olly, Olly. Cyd and I saw them in concert in Savannah several years ago opening for a couple of other bands and we really like their sound.  Johnny Swim is another band I've been listening to again. They are a mainstay in my study playlist.  I pulled up the Mumford an Sons live album at Red Rocks too. Pedro the Lion is a band fronted by David Bazan. I like some of David's early solo work and the older catalogue of Pedro the Lion. This new disc seems to be an exploration of reflective music. 
Post a Comment
Read more

Grieving With Hope

This past week has brought a sense of heaviness in my heart. My oldest child graduated from high school. She has achieved all that I could have possibly dreamed she would up to this point in life. To say I'm proud is an understatement. Completion of high school also means that life in our family is shifting. It won't quite be the same because she will experience a new season of life that will bring fresh experiences and countless life lessons. As I've talked to Cyd the last few days we both agree we feel a sense of sadness while simultaneously finding our hearts filled with hope for what is to come for our graduate.  Truthfully, the heaviness I feel is linked to other factors. For starters, this week marks 11 years since my Dad died from pancreatic cancer. I'm not a big death anniversary kind of person, but reaching a milestone with a child makes you miss a parent even more. The interesting thing about grief is that for most people, not a day goes by that you don't ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lent Day 40

Scripture Reading Matthew 21:1-9 Today is Palm Sunday, the day that we prepare for Easter by celebrating Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Some churches celebrate Palm Sunday by having children enter the sanctuary waving palm branches as a reminder of this sacred day. Other churches will have people waving palm branches lining the center aisle of the church as someone dressed as Jesus enters the sanctuary. In both instances, what is happening is a visual reminder of the majesty of Jesus Christ who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The reaction of the crowd represents their acknowledgement of Jesus as the long-expected Messiah. The greeting that Jesus received (vs.9) was used in Psalm 118 to greet pilgrims as they entered Jerusalem during the Feast of the Tabernacles. Hosanna essentially means "save," but was probably used here as an exclamation of praise to Jesus. The phrase Son of David describes Jesus' fulfillment that the Messiah would be a descendant ...
Post a Comment
Read more