Focus

Close your eyes and open yourself as you relax into a peaceful state. Be willing to expose yourself for who you are as God created you to be. Breathe deeply as you prepare to hear God’s Word.

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Read

Galatians 3:23-29 (NRSV)

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

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Reflect

There was a picture that hung over the sofa in my Aunt Grace’s house that used to scare me to death. The picture had a large eyeball in the sky that was looking down on the people of earth. Scenes on earth depicted people doing acts of kindness and goodness as well as pictures of people doing evil. This picture pretty well represented the concept I had of God as a child. God sees everything you do; if you do wrong, then you will be punished. Therefore, Jesus was presented as my “get out of hell free” ticket.

It wasn’t until many years later that I was introduced to a Jesus who desires to have a close, personal relationship with me; a Jesus who loves with an unconditional love and accepts me in spite of my sin, flaws, and weaknesses. This concept changed the entire focus of my Christian life. The life I live in Christ is no longer just one to look forward to in another time and space, but is a living reality now. What a joy to know that I am not a prisoner of the law, but a child of God through faith.

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Pray

Dear God, we are so thankful that you sent us your Son, not only to be our Savior, but also our friend. May we go and joyfully share this message with others. Amen.

Go with God.