Daily Devotion, May 4, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Galatians 2:20.

Some scripture verses make sense on the surface, but taking them at “surface value” can cause one to miss the richness of its deeper value. For me, this is one of those verses.

On the surface, we can mistakenly interpret it for a call to more self-righteousness in following in Christ’s footsteps. But the idea of “more self-righteousness” is the very idea that Paul is trying to correct among the new converts in Galatia. Some of the new converts from the Hebrew traditions want the new converts from the Gentile traditions to keep all the laws of the Torah for salvation.

This verse is Paul’s argument for the sufficiency of the saving work of Christ. Paul is declaring that his old way of life, which was trying to earn his salvation by keeping the law, was crucified with Christ and now he lives in new freedom to be faithful unto Christ and to serve him. Our own sacrifices, actions, deeds of service are not for us to earn our salvation, but are offered in deepest gratitude for all that Christ has done for us. We are truly set free for service unto others.

Christ’s love in us compels us to sacrifice for others. This sets right the reason for Christ’s way of love which calls us to sacrifice for the sake of others.

Dr. James A. Harnish, in a Lenten study titled “Dying to Live”, writes about this verse, “I am discovering that the closer I get to Jesus, the closer I get to the suffering of others. The more intentionally I attempt to live my life on the basis of his life, the more I find myself being drawn into the lives of others, to share their hurt, to know their pain, and to join them in their suffering.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls Christ’s gift of salvation through his death on the cross, “Costly grace”. It is not “cheap grace”. I hear this in Paul’s words in verse 21, “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Personal Worship Option:

God of Grace through Christ your Son, we give you our deepest thanksgiving and praise for this costly gift of grace. Help us remember that we have truly been set free to love, to sacrifice and to serve others. Amen.