S. O. A. P.

Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!

S-cripture:

Galatians 3:2

I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?

O-bservation:

These are the words of the Apostle Paul to the early Christians living in Galatia (modern day Turkey). What troubled Paul was that they had started their walk with Christ by FAITH, and were now returning to their old life of FEAR. He knew this because they were returning to their old religious ways and traditions. He asked them the question above to help jolt their memory back to how they had come to believe in Jesus.

A-pplication:

Religion has always been driven by FEAR. Conversely, Jesus came over two thousand years ago to call people out of FEAR and into FAITH. Faith is an exciting life that relies solely on the written Word of God and the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. It’s risky. In fact, oftentimes the “Life of Faith” is lived on the edge. As we age in Christ, there comes to all of us a nagging daily temptation from the enemy to move into a “Safe Place.” Religion is promoted as a “Safe Place” to live. Religion has its rules and traditions, and in some cases prepared prayers that millions have prayed through the centuries. And with the daily regimen of religious practice, slowly the Spirit of the person begins to die. It loses the excitement of Faith that was experienced at the beginning. This plays right into the enemy’s hand. Actions that are shameful actually occur in time, and they occur in the name of religion. That’s why the Apostle Paul was adamant in asking, “Was your original Faith birthed by believing what you had heard, or by the works of the law?” The people knew it had to do with believing what they had heard. That’s how Faith comes. Today, when the enemy of your soul tempts you to move to his safe place of works through religious tradition, just stop!! That’s right STOP, and … “Finish The Same Way You Started!”

P-rayer:

Dear Jesus,

I’m never going back to the safe place of religious tradition! Never!! With You help, I will … “Finish The Same Way I Started,” with You! I’m a Faith Man!! Amen