August 4, 2025

WHAT FAITH MEANS FOR US

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.”

Galatians 3:13-14 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

What Is the “Curse Pronounced by the Law”?

The “curse” refers to the penalty that comes from breaking God’s law. The law demands perfection—and when we fall short, it condemns us. As Scripture says, “The wages of sin are death” (Romans 6:23), and “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That means every one of us stands guilty under the law—and deserving of its curse.

Jesus Took Our Curse

But Paul declares that Christ rescued us. How? By taking the curse upon Himself. When Jesus died on the cross, He became our substitute. Paul explains it this way in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

On the cross, Jesus accepted our sin, guilt, and shame—offering us, in return, His righteousness. That’s the divine exchange at the heart of the gospel: we give Him our sin, and He gives us His right standing with God.

This Is Grace—Received Through Faith

This righteousness is a gift. We don’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. God graciously offers it, and we receive it by faith. Not through religious performance, rule-keeping, or moral perfection—but through humble trust in what Jesus has done.

Faith means we believe and accept what we cannot fully understand. For many, the idea of such grace is hard to grasp. Why would a holy God do this for sinners like us? The answer isn’t logical—it’s love. And it must be received by faith, not figured out by intellect.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit, help me to receive the gift of God’s grace—for myself and for others. Help me to live by faith, not just by understanding. Thank You for loving me so much that You sent Jesus to the cross in my place. I trust in Him. Amen.

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