August 18, 2025
- djohnstoncc
- Aug 18
- 2 min read
TRANSFORM WITHIN
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law.”
Galatians 4:24-25 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Paul is driving home the point that the Judaizers—those insisting that Gentile Christians must follow the Law of Moses to be “real” Christians—were wrong. He uses the story of Isaac and Ishmael as an Old Testament illustration.
Hagar, the slave of Sarah, was given to Abraham to conceive a child and “help” fulfill God’s promise. Hagar’s son, Ishmael, was the result of human effort rather than God’s miraculous provision. Paul connects this to the covenant given at Mount Sinai—the Law—because it, too, produced bondage rather than freedom. The Law was never meant to save; it was meant to reveal our need for grace.
In contrast, the gospel of Jesus Christ brings true freedom. We don’t begin our spiritual journey by trusting in Christ’s work and then try to “improve” it by adding the requirements of the Law. That is moving backward—from freedom in grace to slavery under the Law.
Grace doesn’t give us permission to live according to our flesh—it empowers us to live in harmony with God’s Spirit. As temples of the Holy Spirit, we are taught, guided, and transformed from within.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit, help me to lean into grace. Keep me from the trap of legalism. Draw me beyond rule-keeping into a vibrant relationship with You.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
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