A Call to Rise Above Backsliding
A Call to Rise Above Backsliding
Devotion by Pastor Alexander Redd
January 21, 2024
"You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace" (Galatians 5:4).
Have you ever felt lost and uncertain, causing you to look for validation and approval, like what the Galatians did? In his letter to the Galatians, Paul addressed this problem by warning them against seeking justification through the law and explaining the potential outcomes.
He said, "You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace" (Galatians 5:4).
What does it mean to fall away from grace? It doesn't mean that you lose your salvation. But it means you distance yourself from the essence of Christ's redemptive work by relying solely on your efforts and adherence to the law. In doing so, you turn away from the wellspring of grace freely given to you through the cross. This, in turn, undermines the power of God's provision, and you find yourself burdened by self-imposed expectations.
Backsliding confronts us all at some point in our spiritual journey. It refers to the gradual drifting away from the path of righteousness, losing sight of the grace that once filled your life. When you give more importance to following the law and being self-righteous, it can sometimes make you overlook the importance of God's grace. Backsliding is dangerous, hindering your growth, stifling your joy, and undermining your witness to others.
Listen, my friend, don't give up. Our Almighty God does not desire you to live in condemnation or separation from His grace. Instead, He extends an invitation to return, repent, and reaccept His unmerited favor. In 1 John 1:9, we read, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
God's grace is boundless, immeasurable, and unconditionally available to you if you humble, repent, and embrace Christ's sacrificial atonement for your sin. God's grace is not earned through your own efforts or adherence to the law as a means to receive salvation; instead, it is a gift freely given to you through faith in Christ.
As you acknowledge your shortcomings and turn to Him in humble surrender, your heart is restored, your spirits rejuvenated, and your faith rekindled. Focusing on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, is essential to prevent backsliding.
When you are in His presence, you will find the strength to resist legalism and self-sufficiency. You will find true freedom, forgiveness, and transformation in His grace. By staying connected with Him, His grace will empower you to lead a life that brings honor and glory to Him.
Therefore, it is time to stop relying on self-effort to be justified by the law and instead accept the boundless grace that is freely available to you. Guard your heart against the subtle temptations of legalism and self-righteousness and fix your eyes on Jesus, the trustworthy source of your justification and the embodiment of God's grace.
Devotion by Pastor Alexander Redd
January 21, 2024
"You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace" (Galatians 5:4).
Have you ever felt lost and uncertain, causing you to look for validation and approval, like what the Galatians did? In his letter to the Galatians, Paul addressed this problem by warning them against seeking justification through the law and explaining the potential outcomes.
He said, "You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace" (Galatians 5:4).
What does it mean to fall away from grace? It doesn't mean that you lose your salvation. But it means you distance yourself from the essence of Christ's redemptive work by relying solely on your efforts and adherence to the law. In doing so, you turn away from the wellspring of grace freely given to you through the cross. This, in turn, undermines the power of God's provision, and you find yourself burdened by self-imposed expectations.
Backsliding confronts us all at some point in our spiritual journey. It refers to the gradual drifting away from the path of righteousness, losing sight of the grace that once filled your life. When you give more importance to following the law and being self-righteous, it can sometimes make you overlook the importance of God's grace. Backsliding is dangerous, hindering your growth, stifling your joy, and undermining your witness to others.
Listen, my friend, don't give up. Our Almighty God does not desire you to live in condemnation or separation from His grace. Instead, He extends an invitation to return, repent, and reaccept His unmerited favor. In 1 John 1:9, we read, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
God's grace is boundless, immeasurable, and unconditionally available to you if you humble, repent, and embrace Christ's sacrificial atonement for your sin. God's grace is not earned through your own efforts or adherence to the law as a means to receive salvation; instead, it is a gift freely given to you through faith in Christ.
As you acknowledge your shortcomings and turn to Him in humble surrender, your heart is restored, your spirits rejuvenated, and your faith rekindled. Focusing on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, is essential to prevent backsliding.
When you are in His presence, you will find the strength to resist legalism and self-sufficiency. You will find true freedom, forgiveness, and transformation in His grace. By staying connected with Him, His grace will empower you to lead a life that brings honor and glory to Him.
Therefore, it is time to stop relying on self-effort to be justified by the law and instead accept the boundless grace that is freely available to you. Guard your heart against the subtle temptations of legalism and self-righteousness and fix your eyes on Jesus, the trustworthy source of your justification and the embodiment of God's grace.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
A New Year PrayerA Genuine Relationship Requires GrowthHealing a Wounded HeartTrue Love Overcomes ChallengesLove Isn't A BattleTo Keep a Healthy Relationship, Prioritize Love Over EgoJudge Righteously and Walk HumblyKnowing the DevilOh, Lord, Give Us WisdomA Call to Rise Above BackslidingFaith is the Key to Mastering Your EmotionsLetting Go of Your Emotional Baggage and Traumas
February
March
April
May
God Empowers Your Vision for SuccessThe High Cost of Loose LipsThe Mysterious Human SoulWhy Is It Hard To Trust People?Clear Thinking in a World Full of NoiseWhy Shouldn't I Worry?A Battle of Self-ControlBiblical Insights for Handling FrustrationRisks of Neglecting Developmental TheologyThe Valleys of Life Birth Spiritual GrowthDon't Give Up, for Hope is Alive in ChristSeeing Beyond What You SeeLiving A Life of GratitudeWhy Character Matters?
June
Responding to Those Who Provoke YouHow To Find Meaning in SolitudeReleasing Your Inner CuriosityHow To Overcome AngerEssence of MasculinityWhy God Wants You To Get Rid of EnvyWhat God's Word Can Do To YouStay True To Whom God Says You AreA Father's Day PrayerWhy I Can't Stand Toxic PeopleWhy I Love JesusHappy Freedom DayWhy Do Good People Die Early?The Truth Above All Else
2023
June
Learning to Think Like Christ JesusWhy Shouldn't You Take God's Name in VainWhy Do We Say Amen?Trusting Christ Can Help Make Your Dream Come ThroughKeeping Our Promises To GodReasons Why God Wants Us to Examine OurselvesThou Shall Not Take Christ's Name in VainUnderstanding God's Faithfulness Keeping Hope Alive in a Changing WorldWhat Does True Repentance Mean?What Causes Fight and Division?From Struggle to Strength: Overcoming Life's Challenges with Faith in ChristThe Power of Belief: Walking by Faith, Not by SightKnowing What God Expects of YouCelebrating Meaningful Things Fathers DoTaking Care of Our Physical and Spiritual LifeA Prayer of Faithfulness and GratitudeThe Way of God Trumps the Human WillConnecting the Dots: The Importance of Understanding Our Faith's History for Church Leaders and Bible Teachers
July
From Struggles to Strength: Overcoming Challenges with Faith in ChristFinding Balancing: Embracing Unity of the Body and SoulLiving a Life of Justice and Humility: the Christian WayWhat Is Right & Wrong About Women's Head Coverings in Church?Rise Above the Noise: Overcoming Distractions & Living with IntentionReasons Why We Say God Is Always GoodAttaining A Clear MindThe Goodness of GodFrom Blindness to Vision: Experiencing Spiritual EnlightenmentStrong Hope and Action Can Make Your Dream Come TrueFinding Your Inner Strength and PeaceBeyond Material Riches: The True Measure of WealthLiving Out Christ's Great CommissionChrist Jesus Calls You
August
The Power of TogethernessOvercoming Liberia's Spiritual Crisis: A Message to Politicians, Clergy, and CitizensNew Book: Liberia's Search for Freedom: Uniting A Nation Guided By FaithSilence as Betrayal, and the Lessons from Our Inactive FriendsWhy Must We Watch and Pray?Living Beyond FearA Winning SpiritNurturing Emotional Intelligence through Faith Christ
September
No Comments