Friday, August 14, 2026

Scripture

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” Galatians 1:3-4

Reflections

Are we imprisoned?  According to the Apostle Paul, we are.  We may not be standing behind iron bars, but we’re imprisoned.  We may pride ourselves in living in a “free” country, but we are not totally free.

The Apostle Paul wrote about living in an “evil age”.  The time in which he wrote was evil.  The time in which we live is also evil.  The evil one is no less active, constantly seeking to steal, kill and destroy.  We cannot escape it.  Like it or not, the evil one is a part of the picture.  We are not free to live without evil.

This is why God our Father came to us through Jesus Christ.  He came to set us free.  He died on the cross for us in order that we might know his favor for us.  His love and forgiveness are greater than our sin.  He rose from the dead to give us hope and life beyond the grave.  There will come a time when evil will be no more.

As long as we walk this earth, there will be evil.  But our faith in God gives us the ability to see beyond the present evil age.  We are in this world but not of this world.

We pray “deliver us from evil” and that he does.

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for the inestimable price you paid for my sin in order that I might be freed.  Help me through the power of your Spirit to make that good news known to all.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Full Reading: Galatians 1:1-5