Gripped by Grace

Galatians 5:1 (NIV)  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.

Before we began our walk with Jesus, before the personal relationship with Jesus, we were lost and in chains.  We remember the angst in our being, the knot in the pit of our stomach.  We never want to go back to that life.  There was such darkness but we didn't see it then; that is because we viewed everything through the eye of a slave.  One bound to the earth with no heavenly hope.

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.  Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.  You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:2-4)

Having experienced Grace why would one ever go back to law.  To embrace law and return to the old way is to reject Jesus and his Grace. That would be like living as though we can save ourselves.  Like a mother walking with her child, holding on to his hand with a firm grip and having the child yank his hand free and holding it himself.  If he veers into traffic there is no saving him.  It is only the strong, loving hand of the mother that will save the child from tragedy.

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:6)

It is through faith we are saved by grace, there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. This should be a freeing thought for it takes the pressure off.  Just as the child feels safe and protected in his mother’s firm grasp, we can experience the same assurance from our Heavenly Father when our hand is securely tucked into His.

Galatians 5:1-6