SCRIPTURE: Galatians 2:11-21

OBSERVATION:
Paul even challenges Peter for acting contrary to the message of grace. He explains that the life of faith is a life of freedom to follow Christ’s leading within (Christ lives in me, 2:20). Christ is not to blame when we sin again, we are. But He frees from focusing on religious observances to focus on what really matters, the fruit of the Spirit.

APPLICATION:
I sense the Lord reminding me to invest myself in my relationship with Him, and not on religiousity. It is only as I live in Christ, and Christ lives in me, that the Spirit is able to work out His will in my life. How often we return to religious rituals, helpful as tools to lead us, but not to be enforced or required. How often do we judge others by these things, when ”the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6).

PRAYER:
Lord, help me to know what it means to have a relationship with You. I do not want my faith to be only rituals and traditions, I want my faith to express itself through love. Amen.