Topic: Operate By The Word [December 20, 2016]
Text: Galatians 5:13-18
Key Verse: “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Galatians 5:14).
Astory is told of how a man dreamt about our Lord Jesus Christ and three women who were praying. The Lord knelt beside the first with tenderness and love. He moved to the second and placed His hand on her head and looked at her approvingly. But the Lord passed by the third without stopping. Jesus had to explain to the puzzled dreamer.
He said: “Without constant assurance, the first woman would stumble and fall. The second woman’s faith is stronger; I can count on her. The third however, is being trained for the highest calling of all. She knows me so intimately that she doesn’t need signs of my approval. No circumstance discourages her because she knows that ultimately she can trust Me”. Apostle Paul was directed by the Holy Spirit to write to the Galatian church which can be likened to the first woman.
They needed constant reminder (assurance) of the new life of liberty they had under Christ as different from the bondage under the law of Judaism. After they had been converted, following their pardon from sin upon accepting Jesus as their Saviour, these Gentile Christians were now being asked by Jewish Christians to submit to Jewish traditions. They claimed that only a combination of these would save them. Paul rebuffed that we are saved by faith in Jesus, not in observance of the law or by adding to the finished work of Christ.
The law enslaves, while faith in Christ sets free, a liberty which is no license to pander to sin but to guide one to serve God and His Church in love and unity. That faith in Jesus, and holy, sanctified service for Him are the qualification for heaven is a teaching the Church needs to give new converts with a zeal to abide by the salvation doctrine all the time, so that they do not fall into the hands of ecumenical prophets. Nothing less and nothing else.
Thought for the day: Compromising the truth of the Scripture is an assault against divine directive.
Bible Reading in one Year: Zechariah 6-9
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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