Weekly Devotion "What Counts" - 2/25/13

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager

 

What Counts

              For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:6

In Scripture there may be times when we read God’s Word and think, “This doesn’t apply to me.” If you can relate, Galatians 5:6 may be one of those “non-applicable” verses for you: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.

Rather than dismiss this, let’s replace circumcision or any other ancient Hebrew practice, with today’s spiritual disciplines:

• For in Christ Jesus, neither going to church nor not going to church has any value in and of itself.
• For in Christ Jesus, neither tithing nor not tithing has any value in and of itself.
• For in Christ Jesus, neither reading the Bible nor not reading the Bible has any value in and of itself.
• For in Christ Jesus, neither serving in GEMS nor not serving in GEMS has any value in and of itself.

What we do doesn’t make us righteous. It’s what has been done for us in Jesus Christ, our righteousness! Paul, who had an amazing resume of spiritual achievements and credentials, considered his “doings” garbage that he may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith (Philippians 3:9).

God uses spiritual disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, service, and so on as a means of receiving His grace. They are important and are intended for our good if we don’t twist them into law or external righteousness.

Have you ever had thoughts that ran along these lines (although we’d never say it aloud, of course!) maybe God will love me more if I pray longer, bless me more if I increase my giving, or answer my prayer if I stop _______________ or start  _________________. Although we are to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12), works in and of themselves count for nothing. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6).

Think on it: Are you living performance-based Christianity or living out the only thing that counts?

Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again, until you can scarcely distinguish which is one and which is the other.

William Booth