NT Fire Starters – Day 262: Galatians 4:21-5:15

READ: Galatians 4:21–5:15

THINK: Do you always do what you’re told? Probably not. We all have rebellious tendencies, but by no means does that excuse such attitudes and behaviors. Yet God himself knows that it’s much easier and more desirable to do things because you want to, not because you have to. That’s particularly true in regard to your motivation for serving Him. God wants you to follow Him not out a sense of obligation, but out of love and gratitude for who He is.

RESPOND: What do Abraham’s two sons and their mothers represent in regard to God’s purposes for us and our relationship with Him? (See 4:22 note.) What does it mean that “the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son” (v. 30), and that “we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman”? (See 4:22 note.) In what way did some of the Galatians risk being “alienated from Christ” and falling “away from grace”? (See 5:4 note.) Does this mean that following God’s commands and living by the moral principles of God’s law is unnecessary for Christians? Why or why not? What should be your motivation for living by God’s standards? (See 5:6 note.) What is the connection between faith, love and obedience when it comes to serving God and following Christ? Why are love and obedience crucial to your faith? What two patterns does false teaching in the church usually follow? (See 5:7 note.) What are the standards by which we should evaluate spiritual teaching? (See article on False Teachers, p. 1370.) What serious caution does Paul give regarding the way you use your spiritual freedom? (See 5:13 note.) How should this affect your attitude toward questionable behaviors?

PRAY: Ask God to help you demonstrate your faith and to live by His principles, standards and commands out of love and gratitude to Him. Pray that you will never abuse your spiritual freedom by indulging in questionable behavior that does not benefit you or others spiritually.

ACT: Find a way to demonstrate Jesus love to someone in a way that reflects your love for and faith in Christ.