The Free Woman

Sunday, ‎September ‎25, ‎2022

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Memory verse: Romans 12:1: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Today's reading: SONG OF SOLOMON 6-8 GALATIANS 4

The Free Woman

In Galatians, chapter 3, Paul teaches us that we are all heirs of God's promise. In Christ, there is no racial difference-no slave or free-no male or female-no Jew or non-Jew-we are all in Christ, free and children of the living God.

In chapter 4, Paul writes of the 'children of the free woman' or Sarah, Abraham's wife-all because we are heirs with Christ. The lost are children of the 'bondwoman' or servant of Abraham.

The point to all this is, simply and profoundly, the fact that when we are in Christ nothing else matters. Our past has nothing to do with who we are in Christ. The only thing from the entire past that matters is what Christ did for us on the cross and what we have done with Jesus.

We all came from a line of ancestors. Some were good people and some were bad. Some were people of faith in Christ and some not. Some were slaves and some slave owners. Does any of that matter one bit today?

The facts exist in history to be studied so as not to be repeated. But if people dig around in it to load others down with guilt, it is wrong. The digging should stop and forgiveness should be employed.

But---outside of the truth in Christ, this forgiveness is just not possible. Some of the children of the 'bondwoman' will never grasp the mercy of God-it is spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14 ►The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

This is why it is so important-all important-that we continue seeking God to mold us everyday-from glory to glory into the image of Christ. (Romans 8:28-29) As we walk in Christ we carry His love and tender mercies to those who do not know of God's saving grace.

The world outside of Christ is strength over power, dog-eat-dog-competition by rules and judgement-revenge over mercy-guilt and anxiety. That world spends its energies in the futility of displaying how temporarily 'happy' and satisfied they can be. This is being the children of a 'bondwoman'-a world of chains.

That pitiful existence can be wiped away with the brush of God's grace but they must see it in us and hear it from us. It will never be erased by finger-pointing, harsh judgement, nor political pressures.

We are children of the 'free-woman'-born of the Spirit in Christ Jesus-nothing less.

...Because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me for judging and not loving. Teach me to see through the sin to the heart of the lost so they can see Jesus in me.

Merciful Father and great Lord!

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen