Galatians 3:10-14 Hanging on a Tree
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: June 3, 2020 Galatians 3:10-14
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
(Understanding the Text / Revelation of God) Paul has already made the point that the Jews couldn’t keep the law, which was why they had an elaborate sacrificial system. We are cursed by the law because we are simply incapable of keeping it in our own sinful nature. Jesus knew that, so He identified so closely with us that He became us in order to lead us back to Him. We are to rely on Him to bring us back to sinlessness, not trying to do it ourselves. Jesus took the results of our sin for us, and then He rose from the grave so that He could lead us back to union with the Father.
We are cursed because we are separated from the source of life–God. That separation means that we will ultimately die. God is maintaining a tenuous connection with all humanity in order to give us a chance to reconnect voluntarily in a new way, but the day will come when God will stop forcing Himself on us and disconnect totally. Then, anyone who is not connected to the Father through Jesus will cease to exist forever. God took all of us into Himself on the cross and died a second death. He destroyed the part of Himself that knew sin intimately. Jesus rose again because He is pure. God could remember Him and reconnect with Him because there was nothing of rebellion in Him. Jesus wanted the Father 100% with no reservations.
When humans attempt to keep the law in order to earn their way into heaven, it is rebellion. It is saying to God that you will do it yourself. God says that you can only live if you trust Him and believe Him and follow His commands. God knows you cannot follow His commands by yourself, so He made a way to trust Him and believe Him as you grow into a new person who will follow the commands simply because you trust God 100% to always have your back.
(Application) Paul focuses on the Spirit of God living in us as the solution. We have the Spirit now. That means we are directly connected with God through Jesus. It is the Spirit living in us that is the key to life. We have to listen carefully and follow His leading.
(Prayer) I want to want You 100% with no reservations. I’m not there yet, but I want to be there. Help me. I am not trusting enough. I pray to change. Continue Your work in me to transform me. Thank You, that You are living in me and leading me and pushing me and cajoling me. I pray to love You so much that You don’t have to do more than lead.