Galatians 4:21-5:15

Galatians 4:21-5:15 (New Living Translation)
Abraham’s Two Children 21 Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? 22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife.[a] 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.
24 These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. 25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia,[b] because she and her children live in slavery to the law. 26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. 27 As Isaiah said, “Rejoice, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into a joyful shout, you who have never been in labor! For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband!”[c] 28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit. 30 But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”[d] 31 So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman. Galatians 5 Freedom in Christ 1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. 5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. 6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. 7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you. 11 Dear brothers and sisters,[e] if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. 12 I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.[f] 13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[g] 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.Devotion: I love how the beginning of chapter 5 and the end of this passage tie together so well!
In verse 1 of chapter 5, we find out that we are free because Christ sets us free! It is nothing by our own doing (if it were, we would never actually become free because of how much we mess up on a daily basis). Christ loved us enough to die on the cross for us and to free us from our sins.
Then at the end of this passage, starting in verse 13, we have some responsibility that comes with this freedom Christ has given us. Should we use it to keep on sinning? No! What are we to do? We are supposed to use this freedom to love one another and encourage one another!
Coming to the realization that we are completely free through Christ should inspire us to love each other incredible amounts! Not only should we encourage those who are already walking with Christ, but we should be seeking people out with whom we can share this Good News that Christ has set us free!
Prayer: Father, we thank you for the freedom you have given us through your Son, Jesus Christ. We are completely incapable of saving ourselves and setting ourselves free, and it is only by your power that we are free. Constantly remind us of this freedom so that we can love one another and share this amazing and wonderful news with others. We thank you and love you. Amen.