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Galatians: Week 7 | Day 5

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Day 5 

Lisa Sheffler, author  

Listen at bit.ly/EngageGodDaily  

Happy Friday!

Let’s take some time reflect on what we’re learning here in Galatians, spend some time with the Father as we rejoice in the work of the Son, and ask the Spirit to guide us according the Word.

Reflect  

Take another look at Galatians 3:26–4:7.

  • What is Paul’s main point in this passage? How does he want people in the Galatian church to act toward their brothers and sisters in Christ? How might recognizing that they are an heir affect the way they think and behave in everyday life?
  • What has stayed with you personally as you’ve studied this passage?

Connect  

For some of us, it is not easy to relate to God as Father. Not all of us have had good relationships with our earthly dads. Maybe yours was short-tempered and angry, and maybe that anger turned into abuse. Maybe yours was never around, an absent figure who still seems to haunt you to this day. Maybe yours was impossible to please. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t seem to gain his approval.

Unfortunately, in a broken world, there seems to be an infinite number of ways humans can hurt one another, even those they are supposed to love and protect. Even their own children. And when our relationship with our earthly father is painful or difficult, it can tarnish our view of God.

Yet, God is our Father in the truest, best sense of the word, because he created the role himself. He is your Abba, Father — your Dad. He finds joy in caring for you, and lavishing you with good things, but will discipline you if it’s in your best interest. He loves you with a pure, unconditional love. You are completely safe and secure in Christ. You can trust your heavenly Father. He has a glorious inheritance that you can begin to enjoy, even in the present moment. The more you accept that you are a child and heir of God, the easier surrendering your will to his will be.

And part of his divine will is that his children love one another. We should welcome all of our spiritual siblings to the table, even when the world tells us that our differences should keep us apart. We need to humbly listen and learn. We must be willing to lay down our rights for the good of one another because that’s what Jesus, the eternal Son of God did for us.

We hold our heads high because we are children of God and heirs of the Kingdom, but we are willing to humble ourselves low to show the sacrificial love of Christ to those in our spiritual family.

Respond  

Slow down, pray over these prompts, and ask the Spirit to direct you.

Ask the Father:

  • What do you want me to take away from what I’ve studied this week? What do you want me to remember and keep present with me?
  • What do you want me to do with the truth of your Word? What is the one, next, right step that you want me to take?
  • What are you teaching me about you? About who you are and the relationship I have with you? How can I worship and love you based on what you’ve revealed?

If you’ve had a difficult relationship with your earthly Father, take your pain to your heavenly Father in prayer. Pray for wisdom and guidance in that relationship. Pray for the ability to forgive, so you can be free.

How can you show sacrificial love for a sibling in your spiritual family? How can you listen and learn from someone who is different from you?

There are people in your life who don’t know that they can be children and heirs of God by trusting in Christ! What kind of difference could that make in the life of a friend, neighbor, family member, or co-worker? Ask the Spirit to guide you in telling them!

Pray for the opportunity for meaningful conversations!

Coming up next week… 

Paul makes one more plea for the Galatians to reject the false gospel and return to the one he first preached.