for it is written that abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. but the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. one is from mount sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is hagar. now hagar is mount sinai in arabia; she corresponds to the present jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. but the jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. [galatians 4:22-26]
the covenant of the promise
in our flesh we desire to live under the covenant of the flesh; we want to earn our way into God’s favor. what a strange thing! even though we know in our hearts that our good works are filthy rags, even though we know the cost of our sins, the enemy still whispers that we’re safer earning our way. what a strange thing!
worry, anxiety, and impatience are the fruits of trying to live in the covenant of the flesh. we know this, so why do we still try to return to it?
freedom is our inheritance through Christ: freedom from having to earn our way, freedom from our success depending on our strength; freedom from having to control how people respond! what a blessing! how do we keep forgetting…
Lord, teach our hearts to remember that we are children of the promise. teach us to rely, trust, and build our life on you. you are our only rock, in whom we trust; help us in our forgetfulness!
~stephen hall