Thurs., 9/26/13 Devotion (Gal. 2:4-5)

Today's encouragement comes from Paul's great epistle to the Gala-tians, ch. 2, vv. 4 & 5:

"And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might contin-ue with you."

Notice several things about these verses: 1) the devil sometimes infil-trates God's church; 2) Satan's tools are very religious Pharisee-type, "law" people; 3) their intent is to steal away the true believers' joy and freedom in Jesus; 4) God's children owe these wolves in sheep's clothing NO allegiance or submission whatsoever; and 5) the gospel's veracity in our lives hinges on our clinging to Christ, and resisting the devil.

Are we happy and liberated in Jesus? Let us guard ourselves. There are plenty of religious people who seek to deprive us of these precious benefits.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Wicked men make pardoning grace a means of presumption; but pardoning grace rightly applied is the most genuine way to break and trouble the soul." --Christopher Love, in, "The Dejected Soul's Cure"]