Have you ever studied Galatians? I am so amazed at how relevant it is today. Paul wrote to the Galatians because they were mixing law and grace. It seems that almost every church I've ever visited has a tendency to do this!
Paul explained how the law was given to show us how far we fall short of fulfilling the requirements of God's perfection. But the Galatians were insisting that fulfilling parts of the law be required of those who had accepted Christ's sacrifice. Paul tells us that Christ fulfilled the entire law and in so doing he cancelled the law's requirements on us. When we accept Him we are no longer under the law. Our sins are totally forgiven--every sin that we have committed and every sin that we will commit--already forgiven. But not only that--he then gave us His Spirit to live in us so that we are enabled to live a life acceptable to God. Everything God has and is, He has give to us in Jesus! It is wonderful Good News! Why are we so inclined to water it down with rules & regulations?
I was reading Galatians 4:1 this morning "Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had."
It occurred to me that one reason we don't see all our prayers answered is that we have not matured in the faith. I realize Paul was explaining that the law was our tutor till Jesus came and sent the Holy Spirit, but I was also thinking that we are still immature in many spiritual areas. It is only through spending time with Our Father that we get to know Him and what He desires. If He allowed us to exercise all our inheritance immediately upon becoming a Christian we might use it in ways that seemed right to us but were not in line with His purposes. But I also believe there is another reason we don't see our prayers answered and that is because we do not yet know who we are. We don't really believe we are His heirs and are entitled to everything that Jesus did.
I'm sure there are lots of reasons for unanswered prayer but these are thoughts I want to meditate on awhile longer. Why don't I truly accept who God said I am and act on it? Why is it so easy to forget the magnificent inheritance I have in Him?
Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief!
Paul explained how the law was given to show us how far we fall short of fulfilling the requirements of God's perfection. But the Galatians were insisting that fulfilling parts of the law be required of those who had accepted Christ's sacrifice. Paul tells us that Christ fulfilled the entire law and in so doing he cancelled the law's requirements on us. When we accept Him we are no longer under the law. Our sins are totally forgiven--every sin that we have committed and every sin that we will commit--already forgiven. But not only that--he then gave us His Spirit to live in us so that we are enabled to live a life acceptable to God. Everything God has and is, He has give to us in Jesus! It is wonderful Good News! Why are we so inclined to water it down with rules & regulations?
I was reading Galatians 4:1 this morning "Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had."
It occurred to me that one reason we don't see all our prayers answered is that we have not matured in the faith. I realize Paul was explaining that the law was our tutor till Jesus came and sent the Holy Spirit, but I was also thinking that we are still immature in many spiritual areas. It is only through spending time with Our Father that we get to know Him and what He desires. If He allowed us to exercise all our inheritance immediately upon becoming a Christian we might use it in ways that seemed right to us but were not in line with His purposes. But I also believe there is another reason we don't see our prayers answered and that is because we do not yet know who we are. We don't really believe we are His heirs and are entitled to everything that Jesus did.
I'm sure there are lots of reasons for unanswered prayer but these are thoughts I want to meditate on awhile longer. Why don't I truly accept who God said I am and act on it? Why is it so easy to forget the magnificent inheritance I have in Him?
Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief!
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