Follow-up Versus
Galatians 3:26-4:7
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
4:1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Pondering Point
Today’s bible verse looks forward to tomorrow’s story for the week (God and Abraham – Genesis 15). There is value in being connected to both Jesus and Abraham. In fact, being connected to Jesus connects you to Father Abraham. And conversely, not being connected to Jesus disconnects you from Abraham (see John 8:39-40). We are appreciating Jesus and the inheritance He gives us. Join us?
Prayer for the Day
Thank You Jesus for the inheritance I have received as one of the heirs of Abraham according to the promise. As one of his many sons (or daughters), I sing “let’s all praise the Lord! Right arm! left arm! Father Abraham…” Amen!
Micro-Group (MG) Moment:
The importance of staying vigilant
as a follower of Jesus
To “keep vigil”, -- or be vigilant -- is something Jesus sought out of His disciples. It is something Peter stresses when warning us about the attacks of the devil. For Paul, it was, make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15). Ponder these questions:
- What are the risks of not staying vigilant as a Christian?
- What point is God trying to make?
- What can happen when you
- o allow the devil a foothold in your life (Ephesians 4:27)?
o forget he is an enemy looking to devour (1 Peter 5:8)?
o when you forget that he wants to destroy (John 10:10)?
What might vigilance look like in a disciple’s life? From a “positive” or added-into-life perspective, think of being in God’s Word, in worship and prayer, or being in relationship with other people who are pursuing God. These are three necessities we speak about in following Jesus. From a “negative” or deleted-from-life view, think of limiting certain activities that are vying for or getting in the way of time with God, i.e., social media or entertainment practices or habits (or addictions!?). Don’t be lax about your need for vigilance.
What you give your attention to is the person you become... That bodes well for those apprentices of Jesus who give the bulk of their attention to him and to all that is good, beautiful, and true in this world. But not for those who give their attention to the 24-7 news cycle of outrage and anxiety and emotion-charged drama or the nonstop feed of celebrity gossip, titillation, and cultural drivel.
J.M. Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, p. 54, 55
Prayer Prompt
[Insert your own prayer about today's devotion.]