“You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.  For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness” (Galatians 5:4-5).

The tendency to rely upon one’s self runs strong in our rebellion.  On the one hand we will take from others, but on the other, we will not take what we need from the Lord.  You and I need grace and apart from grace we remain in our sin.  Come then and take the gift given freely of the grace Christ won from the cross on behalf of all who believe.  Live in new life and not the old of bondage.

Lord, I do mix up priorities and make systems where no system needs to be.  Lead me away from the control I seek and into the freedom You have given by grace.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of mercy and grace, giving to others as You have given to me.  Lead me in the upward way of sanctification.  Help me to learn how to follow You as Your disciple now and always.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world that all who believe would be given the grace You purchased through the cross.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of salvation and free me from the insistence of doing things my way.  Help me to know that in You is all hope and that apart from You is condemnation.  You have lifted me out of the mire.  Lead me in freedom that I may remain in You.  Amen.

“Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.  And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law” (Galatians 5:2-3).

What is Paul saying?  Only this, that those who appeal to the law are under the law.  The law saves no one, but only condemns.  What then?  Only this: that He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf.  He died to sin once for all.  The “For all” means all who receive Him and walk in His grace.  Therefore, this means that You and I have been called into the new life through the grace of Christ.

Lord, You know where the obstacles are and those places where I lack belief.  Guide me, O Lord, in the eternal way of life that I may grow in Your likeness.  Help me not fall back into the bondage of the law, but live freely as one who walks with You; not free to do as I please, but free to walk pleasing the Father.  Lead me in the way You know I need to be led, O Lord.

Lord Jesus, You have breathed on us and given Your Spirit.  Help me to learn to listen.  Help me to be guided in the way of everlasting life.  Aid me to respect what You teach through the law, but never again to be under the law.  Lord, You know what the world does with these things.  Lead me in the way of peace that I would not wrangle with the world.  Amen.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

For freedom is what it says.  Two things, first, you were born in slavery.  Second, Christ has set you free.  What does this mean?  It means that all protestations aside, sin is bondage and grace brings freedom.  We have the tendency to want bondage and not live in freedom.  We need to be reminded to turn this around and live into the freedom which is ours through Christ.

Lord, You have set all who believe free from the bondage of sin, which is death.  Let Your grace bubble up from the heart and be a wellspring unto eternal life.  Open eyes and ears to see and hear.  In the way of grace, let truth build its foundation that all who believe may walk in the way of salvation and not in the way of this world.  Help us all to see clearly the difference before us.

Lord Jesus, only by and through You are we able to overcome by Your grace what sin and death have brought.  Help me to stand firm in the freedom You have purchased with Your own blood that I may walk in the freedom and newness of life that You make possible.  Let me never sell my gift of grace for the pottage of this world.  Guide me to grow in the way of grace unto the eternal life You promise.  Amen.

“So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman” (Galatians 4:31).

Christ has overcome sin, death, and the devil.  When you by baptism are united with Christ in a death like His, you are united with a resurrection like His.  Come then and live into the promise which is yours in Christ.  Come into the fullness of freedom and know that Jesus has accomplished for you what is needed and that it is reckoned to you as righteousness.  For all who believe He has given the power to become children of the Heavenly Father.

The way is not complex.  The Lord has done this and it is marvelous in the eyes of all who believe.  We do not overcome death, but live in the freedom grace brings.  Free not to do as we please, but free to live a new life and to live into eternity.  The invitation is clear and before us.  Will you go in the way of sin, or come and live with Jesus in love, peace, and freedom?

Lord, You have set those who believe on this course.  Help me O Lord that I may now and always abide with and in You.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope, glory, and honor.  Teach me to love as You love and to live in the freedom You have purchased with Your shed blood.  Guide me in the way of salvation.  Amen.

“And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.  But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.  But what does the Scripture say?  “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman” (Galatians 4:28-29)

There are only two ways for man.  There is the way of continued rebellion and there is the way of the Lord.  Only through salvation is there a way of the Lord.  There are many who come and pretend, but only by giving yourself freely to the Lord can you freely love and serve.  This is the invitation and this is the reality of what is consistently shown in Scripture.  You have been invited.  Will you come and accept the gift of faith?

Lord, You call all to whom You speak to come and see, to follow, to learn and grow into Your likeness.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that along with all of the others who have followed the way of true freedom, I may learn what it means to not be in bondage.  Through the cross, You have freed all who believe that we may no longer walk in bondage and death, but in freedom and love.

Lord Jesus, You have accomplished these things that we may walk humbly with You and learn as You lead us.  Guide me this day that I may learn more and more what it means to not be under bondage to sin and death, but free to live, love, and serve.  Lead me in this life, Lord, that I may humbly become what You intend and prepare for the eternal life which You promise.  Amen.

“For it is written, “Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; For more numerous are the children of the desolate than of the one who has a husband”  (Galatians 4:27).

Before us always are two ways, the way of the Lord and the way of rebellion.  Which will be the way you walk?  Will it be in the admonition of the Lord, or in your way?  Will it be your will, or the Father’s will.  It really does come down to this simple understanding: in the Lord there is freedom and in rebellion there is death.  Walk in the way of promise and freedom and not in the way of slavery.

Lord, we were created to serve.  We all have to serve someone.  Help me, O Lord, to know that You alone are worthy of all honor and praise.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may now and always look to You, the author and finisher of my faith, to guide me in the right way.  Let me not wander with the crowd, but come humbly into the Father’s purpose and pleasure.  Lead me in the right direction Lord.

Lord Jesus, You came not to be served, but to serve. You have set the example of what it means to live and have your being.  You have shown us that freedom is not about doing nothing, but about freely loving and serving others.  By Your example Lord Jesus, help me learn how to live.  Guide me in Your way that I may do what is pleasing to the Father day by day as I grow into Your likeness.  Amen.

“Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.  But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother” (Galatians 4:25-26).

It is interesting that this distinction is not something Paul made up but is evident throughout the Old Testament.  There you find the distinction between Jerusalem and Zion.  They are the same place and yet they are not the same place.  One is the city of those in this age and world.  The other is of those who have overcome this age and world.  Be one who dwells in the promise of Christ.

Lord, You speak of the two places throughout Scripture.  Help me to not be bogged down with the details of life in this age, but be transformed by Your grace for the age to come. Lead me in the way of everlasting life and teach me the difference between these two places.  Let me put the old Adam to rest that the new person in Christ may live, thrive, and dwell in You always.

Lord Jesus, You have come asking us to follow You.  This is not a one time proposition, but a new way of life.  Lead me in this new way of life that I may learn more fully what Your grace and mercy mean.  Guide me, O Lord, and lead me today in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to stay firm in grace and my new life for which You died.  Help me now and always that I may follow You forever.  Amen.

“This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar” (Galatians 4:24).

What Paul is talking about is the oft repeated story with some variation of repackaging living according to the law as a first order of things.  We do this because in sin, we easily recognize this.  However, Christ died once for all of our sins and there is a new life to which we are called.  It is more difficult for us because it requires that we trust in the grace of Christ over our desire to fulfil the law.

Lord, it makes sense and yet I want to be in control.  But is not that the problem?  I want to be in control.  Lead me, Lord, into the way of grace that I would not make laws my sole guide, but live according to Your grace and mercy.  Guide me, Lord, in Your goodness that I may now and always abide in You as You abide in me and live by Your grace willingly and freely at all times.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life that You have established.  Help me now and always to look to You, the author and finisher of my faith and not to myself and the law I would quickly adopt.  Let me not wander in captivity, but live freely into the life You won on the cross for all who believe.   Amen.

“But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise” (Galatians 4:23).

God has shown the means by which salvation would come.  It began with Abraham, “And it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”  What then?  Only this, that in what God has ordained, through the revelation and the prophets, God has made clear that a Savior would come and that through Him those who believed would be saved.  Come then into what God has prepared.

Many are they who choose the way of bondage.  Why bind yourself when the Lord has set you free.  Not free to do as you please, but free from the recompense of sin which is death.  Be lifted out of the mire of sin and live in the freedom of grace.  Come through faith to the promise, which is Christ, and in His mercy and grace, be lifted up by the faith you have been given,

Lord Jesus, You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly.  You have come that as many as believe would be given the power to become the children of God.  Lead me, O Lord, in the eternal way You have established that I may not fall into the error of thinking I can do anything by myself.  Shape and mold me into Your image Savior that I may humbly walk with You.  Amen.

“Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman” (Galatians 4:21-22).

We are born in bondage to sin.  The power of sin is the law.  The recompense of the law is death.  Christ died once for all that those who believe would be united with Him in His resurrection.  Why would anyone want to be reunited with sin and death?  If the law could save us then we would have no need for the Savior.  Do not enter back into bondage, but live in the freedom which is yours in Christ.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we might have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may not fall into the snares of sin and death through the law.  Yes, Your law is good, but without You I cannot do anything.  Lead me into the right way of thinking and acting.  Through Your grace, show me the right way of looking at You and the world that I may be Your Father’s child in word and deed.

Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of the world and apart from You there is nothing good that can be done.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always be led by You, my Savior, in the way You have established by grace.  Keep me from slipping back into the letter of the law knowing they cannot and will not help me.  Instead, teach me Your willing obedience and way of truth.  Amen.