"Throw Them Out the Door!"Galatians 4:30
But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
Thoughts for Today:In our passage today, Paul once again returns to Genesis as he quotes Genesis 21:9-12: "But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, 'Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.' The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, 'Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.'"
What was Paul's point? Simply that Hagar and Ishmael would not participate in the inheritance of Isaac. It's the same way for those who follow the Law and its legalism -- they will never inherit the promise of justification that only comes by faith in Jesus. Unfortunately, many Christians never grow nor mature into the inheritance of sonship that Paul has been describing. Why? Because they never completely get rid of the slave woman and her offspring.
So how do we deal with the mockers who tease and taunt us because we don't live according to legalism? Paul tells us quite clearly, "Throw them out the door!" Whenever I encounter anyone who is legalistic, judgmental, and generally tense, I know those attitudes did not come from the Word. Many times, overly legalistic people are going where they shouldn't go, spending time with people they should stay away from, and participating in activities they should avoid. Being susceptible to sin or giving into temptation makes them feel guilty, afraid, angry and disappointed in themselves. Why? Because they're doing things they know they shouldn't. And they take it out on everyone else.
Questions to Ponder:Have you become a little legalistic in any of your practices? Is sin the root cause? Take a careful look at some of your own attitudes about the things that make you the angriest in others. Is there some aspect of ungodliness that you need to deal with in your own life?
But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
Thoughts for Today:In our passage today, Paul once again returns to Genesis as he quotes Genesis 21:9-12: "But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, 'Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.' The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, 'Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.'"
What was Paul's point? Simply that Hagar and Ishmael would not participate in the inheritance of Isaac. It's the same way for those who follow the Law and its legalism -- they will never inherit the promise of justification that only comes by faith in Jesus. Unfortunately, many Christians never grow nor mature into the inheritance of sonship that Paul has been describing. Why? Because they never completely get rid of the slave woman and her offspring.
So how do we deal with the mockers who tease and taunt us because we don't live according to legalism? Paul tells us quite clearly, "Throw them out the door!" Whenever I encounter anyone who is legalistic, judgmental, and generally tense, I know those attitudes did not come from the Word. Many times, overly legalistic people are going where they shouldn't go, spending time with people they should stay away from, and participating in activities they should avoid. Being susceptible to sin or giving into temptation makes them feel guilty, afraid, angry and disappointed in themselves. Why? Because they're doing things they know they shouldn't. And they take it out on everyone else.
Questions to Ponder:Have you become a little legalistic in any of your practices? Is sin the root cause? Take a careful look at some of your own attitudes about the things that make you the angriest in others. Is there some aspect of ungodliness that you need to deal with in your own life?
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