Thurs., 9/27/12 Devotion (Gal. 3:7)

Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 3:7, where the Apostle Paul wrote these words:

"Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abra-ham."

Do we understand the Biblical teaching that neither the unbelieving Jews, nor the Muslims (nor any any other unbelievers for that matter) are the true children of Abraham? Having said that, many of both Jewish and Arab descent *are* children of Abraham--but this has no-thing to do with their race, lineage, or ethnicity. Instead, it has everything to do with their faith in Jesus.

Do we have sincere faith in the Messiah? Then we also are sons and daughters of Abraham. Let us believe God through the Lord Jesus Christ, just like our father Abraham did.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Hypocrites are not practitioners; they are all head and no feet; they do not walk in Christ (Col. 2:6). Their knowledge is informing, but not transforming . . . " --Thomas Watson, in his sermon entitled, "Christ's Loveliness"]