Be on Guard, Part 1

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),  that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it (Galatians 3:1-15).

The body of Christ is under attack, and most of the attack is obvious. We have a culture that is increasingly anti-Christ. Our morals and beliefs are no longer questioned privately—they are mocked on news shows and in popular magazines and on TV and movie screens everywhere. We can all see these assaults and we can all be prepared for them. The devil uses these outlets to keep us distracted so we don’t prepare for the personal attacks he has planned, which Paul points out here, in Galatians. One of the devil’s greatest weapons is subtle, sneak attacks masked as religious devotion. Jesus wants us to be on guard against these insidious and deadly attacks.

Reflect.
“Sneak attacks” can be guilt from a past sin, criticism from fellow believers, or discouragement over delayed vision. Can you see areas where “sneak attacks” have hit you as a believer?

Prayer
We can become easily distracted by the world and its issues. Spend some time in prayer, asking God to help you stay focus on His Kingdom and righteousness.