3 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? 4 Did you experience so much for nothing?—if it really was for nothing. 5 Well then, does God[a] supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?
In the faith equivalent of “which came first, the chicken or the egg”, the Apostle Paul wanted the legalist Christians in Galatia (who insisted that even Christians had to be circumcised before faith could be effective) to know that it was faith, belief, trusting God, that changed us for good.
And it was the Spirit that either moved us to elicit a response of faith, or was the first evidence of faith dwelling in us.
As we aren’t far from Holy Week, do we all know that Jesus died on the cross of us? Do we know that He did for us a work that we could not do for ourselves? If so, then we are ready for the Spirit to stir a faithful response as we give our lives to God, and truly live for Christ.
Prayer
“Come, Holy Spirit, heav’nly Dove, with all Thy quick’ning pow’rs; come, shed abroad a Savior’s love, and that shall kindle ours.” Amen.
Thank you, Steve
This devotional totally hit the nail on the head in helping me understand my Bible study today. Thank you, Steve!