The Promise, The Law, Now Faith

I am continually reminded of God and His wisdom and faithfulness. This morning I am reading in Galatians and have been led to the passage of the law and the promise in chapter 3. As I am reading I find that God started with the promise of a savior in the lineage of Abraham. And the promise is not amended or updated or changed by anyone. God made the promise and then kept it as we all should have as well.

Next, the law was introduced to keep the promise as the human spirit will always look for the ways to get around things. The law was not to take the place of the promise, only to keep things in line until the promise was fulfilled. Once the promise was fulfilled the law will then become obsolete.

And then the promise was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus. He provided the completion of the promise and faith now takes the place of the promise as that promise was kept. A new promise was made and again it will not change by anyone, God or man the like.

“¹⁶Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, ‘And to offsprings,’ referring to many, but referring to one, ‘And to your offspring,’ who is Christ. ¹⁷This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void…²³Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.” — Galatians 3:16-17 & 23-24 (ESV)

So why the law in the first place, if the promise was to be kept? Why not just bring faith immediately instead of waiting “430 years”? Well, my thoughts are this way. What good would it be to promise something and then meet the promise at that moment. Wouldn’t it be just to act on as opposed to promising to act on? I know that I my work, I have things that are to be done and there are things that are done. If they are done, there is just the completion of the work. If there are things to be done, I commit to taking care of them by a point in time. Credibility in the promise is what is gained as the work is not that impactful in the grand scheme of things. I see that God has gained the credibility with the grand impact of Jesus. He promised and then delivered.

Until I am able to deliver on the commitment to complete things to be done, it is my duty to provide updates as to where I am in the process. I can complete things early, or if not able to meet the point in time, I am able to negotiate or report on the new point in time when expected to complete them. God provided updates in the form of laws to guide us through the time between the promise made and fulfilled. We had no defined point in time when the promise would be fulfilled, yet the laws were there to keep us on the path moving forward as we waited on the fulfillment of the promise. God gave us the promise and the updates to keep us engaged in the promise until fulfilled.

“¹⁹Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. ²⁰Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.” — Galatians 3:19-20 (ESV)

As I sit here this morning, I have to take away, once again, that our approach in this world to completing work is driven by the example God provides for us. God makes promises (I make commitments), God provides laws until fulfillment (I provide updates), then God fulfilled with faith (I provide completion). I am thankful for the LORD and His wisdom in my life to guide me through it all. God promises (to come again) and then fulfills those promises (returns with victory), yet He does not leave me unattended through it all, He guides me with His Word until the promise is fulfilled.

What beliefs are you finding in this world? Are you leery of the promises that you have been given? What if you were to lean on the promises that God has made and fulfilled as the example of how we should proceed?

Added to the Family of God

I think about all that takes place to be added to a family here in this world. Well first there is the natural order of child birth. That is not the simplest of things and takes a good amount of time. Second, there is adoption and that can be time consuming and expensive and there is a lot of work to be done. There is a lot to it being added to a family here in this world. What about to be added to the family of God?

“⁴¹So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls…⁴⁶And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” — Acts 2: 41 & 46-47 (ESV)

I read this morning in Acts that what is required to be added to the family of God is receiving the Word of God. Only the need to hear and be added. All can happen in a few minutes. No long time to prepare. No money needed. Only to believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and to devote yourself to Him.

“²¹And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’” — Mark 10:21 (ESV)

The only requirement is to believe and follow Christ to be added to the family of God. It is not hard to be added, and the cost does not seem high. There is only to follow Christ and believe in Him to be added. And as noted from the rich young man’s story in the following verse, it is still more than most are willing to commit.

“²²Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” — Mark 10:22 (ESV)

Being added to the family is an undertaking. Whether it is adding to this worldly family and going through all the work and or time it takes. Or is it being added to the family of God and giving all of yourself to Him. Either is something that takes commitment. Although to become a member of the family of God is easy in the actions needed and only takes a moment, it is not to be done without the commitment to Christ. The devotion to Him is an in kind devotion He has to me. I have to give all of myself to Him and know that for it, I have received salvation and a relationship with Him, and my final rewards are not of this world, but in heaven.

It is worth the commitment to me. I have family here in this world that took work and continues to do so each day. I have been added to the family of God and where being added was not as difficult, my commitment is one that takes work and continues each day.

What does being added to the family of God look like to you? Are you resistant to the thought of what is required? What if you accepted the Word of God to be added to the family and then committed to the work that continues each subsequent day?

Seek First God and All Will Be Added

“³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

The verse above is found in the passage titled “Do Not Be Anxious” in my ESV Bible. I have written from this passage a number of times and again, God has led me here for some learning this morning. He continues to lead me to the passages where I am in need and adds to my learning when I am focused on Him and that which He has for me.

My first priority should be to seek God first and His kingdom. Everything else will be provided on the basis of what God has for me in His plan for me. All else should be of no real concern as I traverse this world. I need not worry of my sustenance or provision as God will make sure I have those things needed. I should work to bring glory to God and then know that all else is from Him.

Each year I select a word to live out and in that word I work to do that which God has for me. I have over the years chosen the words, growth, learning, stand, and this year the word “more” has come to me. More action, more giving, more of me, more of the LORD in my life, more love, more joy, and more of everything.

As I sit here this morning I am looking for more through God’s Word. That more will come when I devote more of me to Him and the plans He has for me. I give more and will receive more. I do more and more will be done. I love more and more love will be given. I provide more of and for God and more will be provided to and through me. It all starts with my work for God and giving to and doing for the LORD.

I remember back to the movie “Yes Man” with Jim Carrey and see the impact of doing more. I have to apply the concept to my relationship with God and do for Him. Yes to God and all that He has for me. Doing for Him and knowing that the more I am doing for Him the more will be added to me. I am to say Yes to God and do His work and know that He has already done and will continue to do for me. I will be added to when I am glorifying Him in all that I do, so saying Yes is of high priority for me.

Here’s the thing and the caveat. I have to focus on getting things right in my relationship with God and know that when I do, He provides for me. I have to just simply do for Him and not expect anything in return, but know that He will provide all that I “need” and bless me in the process. All will be added to me when I have focused on Him and doing that which He has for me to do. I am a servant of God and not the other way around.

What are you looking to be added to you? Are you seeking that which you would like to be added? What if you were to seek first to bring glory to God and allowed Him to provide all to be added to you?