By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 

7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ga 3:1–9). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Abba,

Not by strength of my own will…

Not by virtue of my own righteousness…

Not by shrewdness of my own intellect…

Not by experience of my own wisdom…

But by Your Spirit am I kept and perfected.

This is immensely comforting! 

We ever feel our own weakness.

We ever witness the failings of our flesh.

We are ever reminded of the wickedness of our hearts.

We ever glimpse the idolatry of our desires

We ever gaze into the vanity of our minds.

Therefore, Abba, we are grateful and thankful that our salvation, the retention of it, and our sanctification, the completion of it, is not based upon my own efforts and power, but rather upon Your Spirit within me.

Spirit,

Thank you for your work within me.

Thank you for convicting and exposing.

Thank you for sealing, protecting, and cleansing. 

Thank you for interceding. 

Thank you residing within.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Jesus,


Thank you for sending the helper, Your Spirit, to us.

Thank you for suffering on our behalf that we might be restored to the Father!

Thank you for loving me, an unlovable.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!


Abba, Father!

Thank you for loving us so deeply that you created the world

Thank you for loving us so deeply that you allowed sin to enter

Thank you for loving us so deeply that you pursued us

Thank you for loving us deeply that you maintained your righteousness, holiness, and justice

Thank you for loving us so deeply that you provided a substitute to die in my place, for my sin.

Thank you for granted me faith and repentance, and drawing me to you.

Thank you God, three in one, that by Your power you are making something beautiful out of me; out of us.

We love you, Abba.

We love you, Jesus.

We love you, Spirit.

Amen.