Listen

Before faith came, we were guarded under the Law, locked up until faith that was coming would be revealed, so that the Law became our custodian until Christ so that we might be made righteous by faith.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian.

You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:23-26

Think

Our scripture reading today from Galatians paints a picture of our relationship to God before and after Christ walked among us. Before Christ, the people of God related to God through the Law. Maybe they offered sacrifices, or maybe they fasted on certain days, or maybe they celebrated different holidays. The Law was present to sustain the relationship with God.

But once Christ came to Earth, our relationship with God changed forever. By believing and trusting in Jesus, we were no longer under the Law. This new way of faith in Jesus provided an incomparable love, grace, and peace to the people he encountered. Christ reminded his disciples and those who came to listen to his teachings that all are God’s children. All are a part of God’s BIG community: no rules, laws, or exceptions.

Meg Rooney

Pray

God, help me look for your presence in the Body of Christ, and not in any rules or laws that I may feel tied to.

Remind me that I too am a part of your family just by following Christ the best that I can each day.

Amen.

Go

Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us.

Frederick Buechner in Wishful Thinking (1973)