Born through the promise

Scripture:

Galatians 4:23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.

Observation:

Paul wrote to the Galatians, gravely concerned with reports that they had been polluted by those who added observance of Mosaic Law to the grace of God through faith in the finished work of Jesus.  In several paragraphs of allegory and metaphor, Paul compared living under the law – a life he knew better than anyone – to life of faith.  To an observer with no interest in either side, the argument could seem pointless, for even faith requires human work.  But that is the point of verses like the above, interspersed throughout the passage.  Contrasting the children of Abraham, Paul shows the crux of the issue.  Abraham, as encouraged by Sarah, had a son named Ishmael with Sarah’s servant, Hagar – the son of the slave.  But then Sarah herself conceived and Isaac was born – the son of the free woman.  But it is the prepositional phrases – “according to the flesh” and “through promise” that hammer home the difference.  Ishmael was conceived in a more or less desperate attempt to bring about a blessing through human means.  Two in a bed make three; they knew that in Abraham’s time too.  But the promise – a word spoken by a third party, an angel from God – was achieved miraculously through the womb of a nonagenarian (90-something) woman.  Two dried up old people in a bed make three.  And thus, the gospel of Jesus Christ is displayed as the fulfillment of promise.  The law had its day and was, by this time, the work of human will.  But Jesus the Messiah came to extend God’s sovereign grace across the boundaries of human families.

Application:

Am I living as one born again through promise?  A blessed third party was involved in my coming to faith –  let me remember that.  And that third party remains in me and keeps me in faith.  I cannot achieve through human means anything regarding salvation or heaven’s reign.  If by my own strength I eke out some tiny obedience, it is filled with the worst motives and filthy glory.  It is only as I walk out the promise, utilizing the deposit of faith I have, that I can know that I live the life of Christ.  Because it is all too easy for me to revert to doing good things, paying restitution for my sins, making it up to the offended and angry, for instance.  Do I strive to be accepted by people?  I am God’s son!  May I  never let that make me proud, but also never let that fade from the center of my identity.  Though work-a-day challenges and even affronts will come, let them never make me a slave to human evaluation, for it is a foul taskmaster, reveling in oppressed compliance.  That’s slavery at heart and at execution.  And let me also understand the promise is not at arms length, shouting across and down echelons of reporting hierarchy.  I was born through promise, not only influenced or persuaded.  The Kingdom is in my blood; it’s part of my being.  Let me not regress into thought of being still a foreigner to the most intimate of relationships.  My bold entering before the throne is not as one groveling, though it is not proud either.  Let me regain anything of the promise I have laid aside or out of which I was intimidated or argued.  For it is to bless all around me.

Prayer:

Father, it is by Your word that I live and move and have my being. I rejoice this day.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Not a fair fight

Scripture:

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Observation:

The beast had been revered by people by reason of its invincibility in battle (13:4), yet once the battle comes against Christ and the armies of heaven, there is no battle. The beast is simple “captured” and the battle is over. And his armies are slaughtered. There is no mention of their being even a fair fight. Such is the vanquishing of evil in the end. His sidekick, the false prophet, was likewise simply arrested and held. Then their punishment is carried out – to be thrown alive into the lake of fire. In both the captivity and sentence carried out, the intentions and end results of the work of the beast and the false prophet have come full circle. For it was their goal to put souls in prisons of fear and shame, resulting in addictive and debasing behavior that further bound them. And after that, to bring their followers into hell itself. Their desire was to take the God-granted gift of freedom and life and pervert it into slavery and death. So the Lord gave them exactly what they had wished on his creation.

Application:

Rather than look for a personal, historical beast – which may or may not be a valid exercise – let me ask – what is my beast? Am I held captive by any being or movement or organization or group that would blunt my freedom, won by Christ on the cross? Do I allow the person of Christ into whose image I am being molded, to be buried beneath some other image or likeness? The road leading to destruction has hundreds of such images, boasting very real and valuable earthly rewards. While awards and rewards do follow a righteous life, let the righteousness of God motivate me and not what glitters. May I receive commendation as His servant and only passingly as one commended by humans.

Also, may I do everything I can to win freedom for those whose lives I can truly grace. Let them be energized towards liberty of being – avoiding that which is blatantly sinful and thus, binding in its result. Let me preach Christ with love, mercy and wisdom, including the judgment that follows walking away. In that, let me also grant forgiveness over my own inflicted punishment. For my anger is not as God’s and the sentences I would pass fall far short of his long-suffering mercy. I will throw no one into a lake of fire or even a too-hot hot bathtub. But I can love those who hurt people (even me) and pray for those who have chosen darkness – so far.

Prayer:

Father, You alone can judge for eternity. And You alone can capture Your enemies – the real ones. Let me walk in holy fear and righteousness that comes from You through Christ. Amen.