Freedom — From The Law – Wednesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Galatians 2:12
For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. (ESV)
Humor me for just a moment: I think we need to jump out and scare people more often. Even though I hate being scared myself, I'll also be the first one to hide around a corner waiting to catch someone off guard (my friends at the Georgetown Campus can attest to this). Unfortunately, I don’t always tend to react the best when my own life or limb is threatened. Last year, during a staff team-building activity at a scary escape room, I shoved my coworker directly towards a trap door as it swung open. What can I say, survival of the fittest, right?
While that is not a proud moment for me, and one I will never live down, the truth is fear has a way of revealing what’s hidden underneath.
We see this in Galatians 2 as Peter reverts to his old beliefs under the law out of fear. Fear of those who believed that gentile believers needed to accept Jesus and abide by the law. I don’t know all of the motivations behind Peter’s fear, but I can take a stab at some of ours today. Many of us allow fear to control our actions instead of letting the truth of the gospel dictate our lives. The fear of being left out drives us to stay quiet during a conversation about beliefs at work. The fear of hurting someone we love compels us to hold back the truth. The fear of not being accepted or forgiven binds us in sin.
All of these fears come to the same conclusion: cowardice (or fear) lets false teaching into the church. When we allow fear to win, we allow the enemy to gain a foothold. This is why we must fight fear with the truth, as Paul demonstrates for us in Galatians 2. He reminds Peter that “a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (verse 16). Therefore, this heavy burden that some were trying to make believers carry should not cause us to fear. There is true freedom in knowing that by no other means than the grace of Jesus are we saved. Because of this, we can and must speak the truth boldly inside and outside the walls of the church.
APPLICATION
Scott challenged us on Sunday to examine our own lives when it comes to the idea of being cowardly. He asked us the two following questions:
Is there any area of your life where you are being cowardly?
Have you told anyone?
Today’s challenge is to answer the first question and then act on the second question. Admitting to someone that there is an area of your life that needs to be challenged is as good as it is hard.
PRAYER
Father, I know that I allow fear to drive different areas of my life. Help me to remember the truth of Your Word and the never-ending grace of Jesus.