Week 3, Day 19 - Time to Grow Up

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.' He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."  Galatians 3:13,14

REFLECT

It may come as a surprise that of all the things that God has freed us from, he has also freed us from "the curse of the law." I can hear you asking, "Didn't God himself give ‘the law'?" What was Moses carrying when he descended Mt. Sinai during the wilderness wanderings? Don't we need a law from God in order to define right and wrong and to keep us on track in life? In one sense, yes, but in another sense, no.

The first observation is that Jesus didn't free us from the law, but the text says from, "the curse of the law". The apostle Paul explains in Galatians 3:10, "All who rely on observing the law (as a means of salvation) are under a curse..." Paul insists in the strongest possible terms that salvation is by faith alone. No person, however virtuous or good, can merit salvation. We all need a Savior. Got it? We are free from the need to get right with God through endless rounds of law-oriented behavior. We simply come to Christ, receive the gift of His grace, His Spirit and thus are empowered to live a life that is full of promise and potential and victories in Jesus. When we fail, which we all do, the Holy Spirit leads us to repentance and we get right back in the flow.

The second observation is that we are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The law, which is a reflection of God's very character, becomes part of our spiritual DNA over time. In relationship with the Holy Spirit my desires change. I no longer want to do some of the "lawless" things I once did. The purpose of the Law, which is to lead me to Christ, has taken place and now the principles of God's eternal character are being written in my life, not on tablets of stone.

But let's simplify it even more. God loves us! He wants the best for His children. It's like parents raising their kids, in order to instill a spiritual and moral compass, they have to keep things simple and concrete early on: "Don't touch this. Don't go there. Don't steal your brother's toys. Do obey." When adolescence comes, parents hope that their kids develop more of an understanding about why they should do this and not that.

That, in part, is what redemption from the law means. Not doing away with the law but incorporating those principles into our minds so they are second nature. God is simply saying it's time to grow up. And not because we are more morally capable today than the people of God in the Old Testament were, but because this dramatic thing has happened - God's son has come. He is our redemption - our liberator. He is the Jubilee. Blow the trumpet loudly!

MAKE IT REAL

Think of one area of your life in which it's time to grow above the rules and do something because it's right rather then because you have to. Allow the Holy Spirit to change your spiritual DNA and empower you.

Day 20