The Walker's Diary for: Friday Sep 21, 2018
Galatians 3:1-20
Genesis 22:15-17
Psalm 107:33-43
Galatians 3:1-20
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. [2] I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? [3] Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? [4] Have you suffered so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing? [5] Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
[6] Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." [7] Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. [8] The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." [9] So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
[10] All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." [11] Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." [12] The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." [13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." [14] He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
[15] Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. [16] The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. [17] What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. [18] For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
[19] What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. [20] A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
Genesis 22:15-17
The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time [16] and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, [17] I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,
Psalm 107:33-43
He turned rivers into a desert,
flowing springs into thirsty ground,
[34] and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
[35] He turned the desert into pools of water
and the parched ground into flowing springs;
[36] there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could settle.
[37] They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that yielded a fruitful harvest;
[38] he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
and he did not let their herds diminish.
[39] Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
[40] he who pours contempt on nobles
made them wander in a trackless waste.
[41] But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and increased their families like flocks.
[42] The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.
[43] Whoever is wise, let him heed these things
and consider the great love of the Lord.
