Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — What He Said, He Did

What He Said, He Did

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

— Galatians 3:26-29

The promise Paul talks about in our reading from Galatians is the promise God made to Abraham. This promise had three parts. You can read about it in Genesis 12. God promised Abraham land and descendants. That was music to the ears of a wandering and aging nomad who didn't have any children. But the third part of God's promise was the most intriguing—that through Abraham all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Was this a riddle? How could the whole world be blessed through one man?

Riddle though it may seem, "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26b). Now in due time, the promise was fulfilled, in the birth of Jesus. "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4-5).

While Jesus was God's Son, He was also Abraham's descendant (see Matthew 1:1), and Jesus had an intimate relationship with His Heavenly Father. In fact, He said, "I and the Father are One" (John 10:30). Jesus also had full knowledge of His human ancestry, going all the way back to Abraham.

How about you? Do you have an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father, the God who gave you life and breath and sustains your life from day to day? Whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not, at just the right moment, in the fullness of time, God sent His Son for you.

And why would He do that? Because you and I needed redeeming; we need a Redeemer.

A life had to be exchanged for your life. Somebody had to pay with their blood for your sins. Someone had to pay with their life for you to be set free, to be redeemed. Jesus was that Someone. He went to the cross voluntarily with you in mind. He died there, outside the walls of Jerusalem, so that you could be reunited with your Heavenly Father. You see, your relationship with God was broken by sin—our sin, your sin, my sin. With His death and resurrection, Jesus makes our adoption possible into God's family. Your adoption papers have been signed in blood, His blood.

Please know that God's promise is for you. The Father sent His Son to be your Redeemer. He is calling you to Himself. Do you know God's Son? Have you received Him as your Savior, your Redeemer?

Confess your sins to God and trust His love for you. Forgiveness of sins is now possible, in Jesus' Name.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to Abraham, fulfilled in Jesus, and given to us. Lead us to believe in Your Son, our Savior. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Mark Hannemann

Reflection Questions:

1. How are you with believing the promises people make to you?

2. Do you have a sense of the oneness of God's people—that there's no distinction among us? Do you see it otherwise?

3. When is it that you feel closest to God? Does some of that depend on you?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
How are you with believing the promises people make to you?