Pensamento:
Graça e liberdade não são desculpas para pecar (Judas 4). Na verdade, pecado nos escraviza; pecado vicia (Jo 8:34). Já que nós morremos e enterramos nosso velho homem de pecado com Jesus no batismo, não devemos permitir que pecado reine sobre nós, ou se torne nosso mestre, porque fomos libertos pela graça (Rm 6:1-14). Então, busquemos o poder do Espírito Santo para nos purificar (Hb 9:14) e poderosamente nos libertar de pecado (Rm 8:10-15). Usemos nossa liberdade para abençoar e edificar os outros. Usemos nossa liberdade para oferecer nossos corações e vidas ao trabalho de Deus!
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Paul wrote to help the new believers keep their true freedom in Christ: freedom from trying to earn their righteousness through law-keeping (Galatians chapters 3 and 4). The law could not justify them before God. Only faith in Jesus offered them freedom to be all Christ had re-created by grace to be (Galatians 2:14-16; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). They were God's children through faith, led by the Spirit to take on the character of Jesus (Galatians 5:16-27). We, too, must realize that since we are God's children, we have been freed from law-keeping and sin because of our faith in Jesus and our participation with him in baptism through faith (Galatians 3:26-29; Romans 6:3-14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7). We must never return to justifying ourselves through works of any law, set of rules, or someone's religious expectation. To do so is to give up our freedom and return to the bondage. Paul begs us to rely on what Jesus did for us, not on works of the law. It is the cross of Christ and the empty tomb that liberate us from sin, death, and slavery to what cannot save us.
Oração:
Deus Santo e Justo, meu Pai Aba, obrigado por ter me libertado da culpa e do poder do pecado! Por favor, fortaleça-me e transforme-me através do Seu Espírito, para que eu possa deixar meu passado pecaminoso para trás, e viver uma vida de caráter e bênção na minha família, no meu trabalho, e no seu mundo. No nome de Jesus, eu oro. Amém. || Veja a imagem especial: http://www.iluminalma.com/img/il_galatas5_1.html
My Prayer...
Holy and Righteous God, my Abba Father, thank you for freeing me from the guilt and power of sin! Thank you for liberating me from trying to earn my salvation through law-keeping. I trust that you will empower and transform me by your Spirit. By the Spirit's power, I know I can now leave my sinful past behind. I want to honor your grace by living a life of character and blessing in my family, in my work, and in your world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
