Finding Peace
Tuesday’s Verse:
From Galatians 3:24 ESV
“So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”
Sometimes God’s Law can feel oppressive. It convicts us of our weakness. It shines a light on secret desires we’d prefer to keep hidden. Relentless thoughts we’d rather silence. We might even pray for it to quit breathing down our necks. But the Law was never given to provide us with a way of salvation. It was given to lead us to a Savior.
Paul likens the Law to a guardian. This was not someone we cuddled up with and listened to as they sweetly lectured us about life. He was demanding. He set rules. He reprimanded. And if necessary, he would even chasten you. His job was not to coddle you, but to bring a child to adulthood in safety. Similarly, God’s Law leads us to recognize who we truly are. It shuts the door on pride and forces us to see our need.
Our need is Jesus.
Once the Law has finished its job, our hands are empty. We can do nothing to declare ourselves righteous. In fact, we are left more aware of our sin than we were before. And it is here that faith springs up. Christ reaches down in grace, not to burden us with another thing we have to do, but to gift us. He does for us what we could not do for ourselves. He takes our guilt. He pronounces us righteous in the Father’s eyes.
So when we hear the voice of the Law, we don’t flee from it. We heed its message, we repent of our sin, and we allow it to drive us to the cross. For at the cross we don’t find our condemnation, but mercy. We don’t find our judgment, but pardon. We don’t find emptiness, but peace.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Lord Jesus, when the Law convicts me of my sin, may the spirit of despair not burden me. Instead, lead me to faith in Your work on my behalf. Help me to remember that I am made righteous before You, not by my works, but by Your mercy. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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