Wednesday, July 8, 1998
Wednesday, July 8, 1998
Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until
faith would be revealed.
Who is it that tells us we are ugly? It may surprise you to know the scriptural answer to that
question. According to Paul, it is the law that tells us we are ugly. Listen to his words: "Now
before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be
revealed." Earlier in this same chapter Paul calls the law "a curse." Why? Why would he say that?
Because under the law we are all failures.
Who among us can ever keep the law perfectly? The answer is, none of us. Not a single one of us
could possibly fulfill all the law's requirements. The law provides for us a standard that is
unattainable. And even if we were able to keep the law without any deviation, we would probably
be guilty of spiritual pride. We would conclude that we are better than other people--and that may
be the deadliest sin of all. It's a lose/lose situation.
A sign at a railroad crossing read, "The average time for the train to pass this crossing is 14
seconds, whether your car is on the track or not."
Life happens. Stuff happens. Trains cross the intersections! But, life can be a win/win through the
grace that Jesus Christ offers to each of us. We don't have to measure up. Christ already has!
Prayer: Dear God, I am grateful that I don't have to measure up to you on my own. Yes,
Jesus is my savior. Amen.
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA
(Galatians 3:23
NRSV)