All the way back to Abraham, we see evidence of the coming of Christmas blessing. Paul wrote to Galatian churches instructing them on the deep and lasting freedom for all found in the Gospel message—that faith in God through Jesus Christ was sufficient.

Paul was steeped in his Jewish background, very aware of how long the promises of God had been active in the world. The Galatians had been tormented by the non-free, non-faith-filled legalists trying to convince them that adherence to the Old Testament Law alone was their means of salvation. But Paul pushed back much further than Moses receiving those laws (Exodus 20+) that the legalists were pushing on new Gentile believers. He went back to the origin of God’s promise prior to the Law.

Abraham, who started out as Abram, was transformed when he began a trusting relationship by faith alone with the living God. Paul had to unlearn his legalistic ways after he encountered Christ on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1-19) and see the way through the Law to rest in faith through Jesus Christ. He was determined to convince the Galatians of this.

What freedom there is living in relationship with God through Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit! Abraham had discovered it, Paul knew it, and we who believe like Abraham did know it today.

How this informs our journey through Advent, to the worship of Jesus Christ our Savior in the cradle, our Redeemer on the cross, and our resurrected King coming again makes all the difference in the world, to the world, and for the world.

Praise God who accepts our faith in him as the trust-work for a future filled with far more than Christmas lights!

Author: ReeAnn Hyde

Other Scriptures for today:

• Luke 1:46b-55
• 2 Samuel 7:18, 23-29