Originally published Thursday, 01 June 2017.
Hello Beloved! Over the past few videos we have discussed the importance of knowing who we are in Christ. We also learned that our identity in Christ means more than anything we could ever do for Him.
To further drive in this message to the Galatians, Paul uses the story of Sarah and Hagar from Genesis to make the point that those who rely on faith and not works are the true children of God and heirs to the promise of Abraham—salvation from our sins and relationship with God.
We learn our efforts can never be enough. However, our response to our inadequacy should not be to rely on ourselves more, but to rely on the promise and faithfulness of God to do the impossible because that’s what He’s in the business of doing.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for accepting me as a beloved daughter. I pray for the power to rely on your strength and faithfulness and not to become distracted and frustrated with my weakness. I love You. In Jesus Christ Name I pray. Amen.
Read Today’s Message
Over the past few videos we have discussed the importance of knowing who we are in Christ as His beloved daughters. We also learned that our identity in Christ means more than anything we could ever do for Him. To further drive in this message to the Galatians, Paul uses the story of Sarah and Hagar from Genesis to make the point that those who rely on faith and not works are the true children of God and heirs to the promise of Abraham—salvation from our sins and relationship with God.
Let me tell you the story of Sarah and Hagar so you can truly grasp what he is saying in today’s text. We talked about Abraham a few videos back when we discussed God’s promise being greater than our works. Sarah, who comes up in today’s study of Galatians, was Abraham’s wife. God made a promise to Abraham that he would be the father to many nations. However, Abraham was old, Sarah was old, and she was also barren. So it was hard for them to believe this promise that they would have many children because at this point they didn’t have any, and it didn’t look like they would ever have one. Instead of trusting in God’s promise, Sarah told Abraham to sleep with her maidservant Hagar so he could have a child. So Abraham slept with Hagar, and she had a baby named Ishmael. As in most situations like this, there was some drama and it didn’t go well. Despite all that, God fulfills His promise and Sarah does become pregnant with their promised son, Isaac. Don’t you just love how even when we don’t trust God, He still remains faithful?
Although the Galatians had started to rely on their works for salvation and not God’s grace, God is so faithful to send Paul to get them on the right track. In today’s text in Galatians, Paul is using this story of Hagar and Sarah to make a very important point. It reads:
“His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. […] Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. […] Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.” – Galatians 4:23,28,31 (NIV)
Hagar’s son Ishmael represented works of the flesh. This means man’s effort to gain his own salvation. Sarah’s son represented the grace of God, that even when it seemed impossible, God would still deliver on His promise. So Paul reminds the Galatians: because of your faith, you are children of promise. It is not up to you to gain or add to your salvation. God will do it.
If you're in too deep, let me tell you that's exactly where God's promises are fulfilled.CLICK TO TWEET
It was no hard thing for Hagar to get pregnant. She was young and fertile. As for Sarah, if it were not for God’s promise and faithfulness, it would not have happened. The same is true for our salvation. We can’t do it on our own. Our efforts can never be enough. But our response to our inadequacy should not be to rely on ourselves more, but to rely on the promise and faithfulness of God to do the impossible because that’s what He’s in the business of doing.The promise will not come through what you can attain on your own. The promise came through an old, barren woman. God loves to work through impossible situations.
So if you feel that you’ve gone too far, you’ve done too much, you’re in too deep, let me tell you that’s exactly where God’s promises are fulfilled. We are not children of the slave woman. We are not slaves to our works, deeds, and an endless debt. We are children of the promise, and our God is faithful to fulfill it.
Now I want to hear from you today, Beloved. Please comment and let me know: what truth in today’s video stood out to you the most? I can’t wait to chat more about it in the comments!
If you enjoyed today’s message be sure to share it with a friend because you never know who might need some Beloved encouragement today. I post new encouragement every week so be sure to join Beloved to have my weekly devotion “Hello Beloved!” delivered directly to your inbox. As always, thank you so much for reading and until next time be beautiful, be blessed and beloved.
Love,
Christina
P.S. Kia will be speaking more on this topic at this year’s Beloved Women’s conference so be sure to get your ticket and sign up for her workshop “Maintaining Emotional Health in the Busyness of Life” before tickets sell out! --> www.belovedconference.org.
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