Life's Journey

Good day! Today we are reading Galatians 4:21-31. I have posted it below. If you have a few extra minutes and please share your insights.

“21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the freewoman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.” Gal. 4:21-31

Paul shifts his method of explaining to the Galatians that they are not saved by the law, by using the allegory of Hagar and Sarah and their two sons. One was a son of the flesh – born to a slave woman and the other was a son of promise – born to a free woman. They represent two covenants –the old covenant and the new covenant. Under the old covenant, they were slaves to the law and their man-made attempts to earn their salvation. Under the new covenant, they are free. Paul wants them to live free! Sarah and Hagar did not get along and God told Abraham to send Hagar and her son away. Paul says to cast out the slave woman and her son. Law and grace do not get along. We will spend our entire lives trying to earn favor with the Lord if we do not kick legalism out of our lives.

My reflection for the day: The Message: “The son of the slave woman was born by human plotting; the son of the free woman was born by God’s promise.” The two births represent two ways of being in a relationship with God. There are those who relate to God by human plotting, planning, and rules (i.e., slaves). Others (the free) relate to God according to His promises. Every choice has consequences. We have the choice to be free in Christ or to be slaves to our sin. When we choose to be free in Christ we have to put away our sin. You can’t continue to be free in Christ if we are living in the world and behaving as the world does. Yes, we love those in the world because Jesus loves the world but we can’t live like them.

Reflection Questions: In what area do you struggle with legalism or trying to earn favor with the Lord? What do you need to let go of so you can experience the freedom of grace?