Bible League: Living His Word It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.There were a group of people in the Galatian church that were trying to convince the church that in order to be saved they must do more than just have faith in Jesus Christ. They must also obey certain commandments of the Mosaic Law. This kind of thinking, let's call it "faith-plus thinking," has been common in Christian circles through the ages. In order to guarantee salvation, some have felt the need to add a list of moral stipulations to faith in Jesus Christ. They think that a person can't be saved if they violate whatever stipulations they have added to faith. Paul will have none of this kind of thinking. His whole point in writing to the Galatian church was to show them that it is by faith alone that we are saved (Galatians 2:15-16). We do not earn salvation by obedience to law. We are given salvation through faith in Christ. To believe that it is necessary to obey a set of laws in order to be saved is to submit oneself to a yoke of slavery to those laws. Christ set us free from the yoke of the Mosaic Law and any other law that people may try to set up as a condition of salvation. In Christ we are free. Hence, it is for freedom that we have been set free, not for slavery. Therefore, since we are free in Christ, we must live as if we are free in Christ. We must stand firm in the freedom we have been given through Christ and not fall into the trap of faith-plus thinking. We must not let ourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery to a set of laws. None of this means that we have a license to sin. Later in Galatians Paul tells the Galatians that they should not "use your freedom to indulge the flesh" (Galatians 5:13). It just means that we are saved by faith, not by works of the law. Since it is for freedom that we have been set free and not for slavery, let us stand fast in that freedom and throw off any yoke of slavery we may have taken upon ourselves. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Kings 14, 15 1 Kings 14 -- Ahijah's Prophecies against Jeroboam; Rehoboam's Wicked Reign NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Kings 15 -- Kings of Judah: Abijam, Asa, Jehoshaphat; Israel: Nadab, Baasha NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 1:1-28 John 1 -- In the beginning was the Word; The Testimony of John; Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, Philip and Nathanael NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Though the Lord gave you adversity for foodand suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Insight The Lord gave his people the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, but he promised to be with them, teach them, and guide them during hard times. God expects a lot from us, and many times following him can be painful; but he always acts out of his love for us. Challenge Next time you go through a difficult time, try to appreciate the experience and grow from it, learning what God wants to teach you. God may be showing you his love by patiently walking with you through adversity. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.Like many others, the impotent man had been waiting for a wonder to be wrought, and a sign to be given. Wearily did he watch the pool, but no angel came, or came not for him; yet, thinking it to be his only chance, he waited still, and knew not that there was One near him whose word could heal him in a moment. Many are in the same plight: they are waiting for some singular emotion, remarkable impression, or celestial vision; they wait in vain and watch for nought. Even supposing that, in a few cases, remarkable signs are seen, yet these are rare, and no man has a right to look for them in his own case; no man especially who feels his impotency to avail himself of the moving of the water even if it came. It is a very sad reflection that tens of thousands are now waiting in the use of means, and ordinances, and vows, and resolutions, and have so waited time out of mind, in vain, utterly in vain. Meanwhile these poor souls forget the present Saviour, who bids them look unto him and be saved. He could heal them at once, but they prefer to wait for an angel and a wonder. To trust him is the sure way to every blessing, and he is worthy of the most implicit confidence; but unbelief makes them prefer the cold porches of Bethesda to the warm bosom of his love. O that the Lord may turn his eye upon the multitudes who are in this case tonight; may he forgive the slights which they put upon his divine power, and call them by that sweet constraining voice, to rise from the bed of despair, and in the energy of faith take up their bed and walk. O Lord, hear our prayer for all such at this calm hour of sunset, and ere the day breaketh may they look and live. Courteous reader, is there anything in this portion for you? Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 69:26 For they have persecuted him whom You Yourself have smitten, And they tell of the pain of those whom You have wounded.Luke 17:1 He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. Matthew 26:67,68 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, • and said, "Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?" Matthew 27:41,42 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, • "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. Acts 4:27,28 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, • to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. Isaiah 53:4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. 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