Today's encouragement comes from Galatians 3:24, where we read these words, written by Paul:
"Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justi-fied by faith."The law of God *does* perform several important roles in true believers' lives. One of its main purposes is to drive us to despair, with regard to the futility of our finding or achieving any righteousness before a holy God on the basis of our religious works or good behavior. The law condemns us, and shuts out any and every vestige of hoped-for self-righteousness.
. . . But, thankfully, once we sinners *are* brought to the utter "end" of our-selves—we are graciously directed to The One (Christ) who actually *can* save us. By faith we take hold of Jesus' righteousness, and then we are plac-ed into His body (the church), and enjoy all the benefits that have accrued to Him (Christ).
[Puritan quote of the day: "He who has ever been acquainted with God and seen the light of His pleased face would rather die a thousand deaths than forfeit God's favor or incur His displeasure.” —Robert Harris, in, "The Way to True Happiness"]
