Faith Perfected | Galatians 3:3

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? — Galatians 3:3

CALL OUT: This is to all the men who use these daily devotionals to disciple others. It's pretty simple: share the devotional with another man, and then use the questions below to spark a quick discussion. I know many men use these daily devotionals for weekly small group meetings as a discussion guide for their time, and you can, too.

If you read this in context, you will see Paul posing several questions in Galatians 3:1-6. With each, he builds a list of logical dilemmas. This one presents a logical fallacy about spiritual maturity—that spiritual maturity is not perfected by human effort. This means human effort from beginning to end is insufficient in attaining or achieving our spiritual maturity.

Many young believers get this wrong. They wrongly believe that spiritual maturity is attained and achieved by how much they know or how long they believe. The reason we get this wrong is that the world's system rewards how much we know and how long we do something. But when it comes to faith, these factors are irrelevant. The only thing that matters is faith in Jesus, who was perfect and made us perfect.

As the author (probably Paul) said to the Hebrews, "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." — Hebrews 10:14

Our works of the flesh never made us perfect. If we could have done it, we would have. Instead, his work in the flesh, sacrificed for us, made all men perfect. Therefore, all our good works are simply an overflow of his Spirit doing good work through us by faith. So be receptive to the Spirit today, live by faith, follow his prompting, and cultivate the perfect life that has been perfected in you.

#SpiritualMaturity #FaithNotWorks #SurrenderToTheSpirit #PerfectInChrist #WalkingByFaith

ASK THIS:

How does the concept of spiritual maturity being perfected by faith challenge your previous understanding of personal growth in your Christian walk?
Reflecting on your own experiences, how have you seen the difference between striving in your own efforts versus surrendering to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life?
DO THIS: Cultivate the perfect life that has been perfected in you

PRAY THIS: Father, I thank you for the gift of faith that perfects me in Christ. Help me to surrender daily to the leading of your Spirit so that I may walk in the fullness of the life you have perfected in me. Amen.

PLAY THIS: Thrive.