Anglican Daily Fountain 2 October 2023 (Devotional Today)

TOPIC: CALLED TO LIBERTY

TEXT: Galatians 4:21-5:13(KJV)
4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
5:8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
5:10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
5:12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Anglican Daily Fountain 2 October 2023 STUDY:

Since we are still in the mood of Independence Day celebration of our great nation, we cannot but continue to bring to our awareness what we are in Christ Jesus. When an animal stays on a leash for so long and is eventually loosed, it takes the animal some time to realise the leash is gone.

Paul the apostle, in our text today gives a clear and explicit explanation about the bondmaid and the free woman. In verses 21-24 of our text, he terms the expression an allegory, in other words, the bondwoman is the law from Sinai, born of the flesh and gendered to bondage while the free woman is Jerusalem which is above and is free (Gen. 16:15). He therefore calls us to live a life of freedom by standing fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free (Gal. 5:1). This we can do by embracing the grace released upon us by virtue of Christ death and resurrection.

As a nation, we must go beyond counting the calendar year of independence and rather go ahead to live our freedom through developmental and infrastructural projects that validate our freedom and ensure that we don’t live as slaves in our own land. Let us pray for our leaders that they may champion our reality as free citizens. As Christians, we must realise that we have been called to liberty in Christ. Therefore, we should live accordingly.

PRAYER: O Lord, be merciful to our nation and grant us grace to enjoy the reality of our freedom and independence; that we may serve you in quietness and peace, in Jesus name, Amen.