Saturday, September 12, 2026

Scripture

“For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.’” Galatians 3:10

Reflections

Do you ever feel cursed?  According to the Apostle Paul, if your life is consumed with trying to follow God’s laws, you will feel cursed.

Think of people you know who are always “trying to be a better person”.  The harder they try, the more they become stuck focusing on themselves.  They become keenly aware their best is never good enough, never achieving perfection.  Their shortcomings haunt them.  They may even become tempted to give up.  What a curse!

The Apostle Paul reminds us that “no one is reckoned as righteous before God by the law”. (Gal. 3:11)  That’s every last one of us.  The law always convicts.  We human beings are not capable of perfection on our own.  We are too weak in the face of temptation.

Gratefully, there is a better way.  The Apostle Paul continues by saying, “the one who is righteous will live by faith.”  We need not be consumed by unsuccessful attempts to perfectly follow God’s law.  Our salvation comes by God’s grace through faith.  This is what frees us to shift our focus off self and onto God.  Our imperfect lives of love and service to others flow from what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.

That’s not a curse.  It’s a blessing.

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for enduring the curse of the cross for me, that I might be blessed in You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Full Reading: Galatians 3:10-14