Waiting

Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬-‭6

“For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Ever notice how we get to fussing about things that are important, but still aren't the most important things of our faith. So often when we get to fighting the most important thing of all gets lost. In the first century, this fight often had to do with Jew/Gentile issues. While race, culture, and heritage are important, what really is most important is showing to the world that we can value cultural and racial diversity in each other and still find our unity in Christ. In our high tech world today, isn't it interesting that the most important issue is the same as it was two thousand years ago faith displaying itself in loving action. As believers, we are waiting for the hope of righteousness. We do not hope for righteousness, for we are already in right standing with the Lord. We have already been made righteous in Christ, by grace through faith, and the day is coming when we will put off this old mortal body and finally be clothed in our promised, glorified body.We are already clothed in the righteousness of God, forever accepted by the Father in the Beloved because we are in union with Christ. We are already members of His Body and identified by grace through faith with our God, but we also wait for our promised inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, unfading, and reserved for us in heaven. Our right standing with God is not of ourselves for there is none righteous, not even one. Our righteousness is a free gift of grace to all who are redeemed through the death, burial, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a righteousness that is imparted to us by the Father of all mercies and a righteousness that is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit of God. There is no works or anything else we humans can do to save ourselves. Jesus is our only choice where salvation is concerned. There is no other. Everything needed to be done to atone for our sins was done at the cross once and for all. Faith in God's atoning work of grace on our behalf at the cross is what is required of us and nothing else. As Christians, we are not working to attain our own righteousness through meritorious acts, works of the Law, or fleshly pursuits. We are to live and move and have our being in Christ. We are to abide in Him and rest in Him, as through the Spirit of God we watch and wait for His any day return, when we shall see Him as He is and be forever with the Lord. We can talk faith all day long but if it is not expressed through love it means nothing in the sight of God. Faith expressed through love is what matters to God. Chew on this today!!!

Father thank you for this day and we pray that we may wait with patience and grace as, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we continue to look for the any day return of the Lord Jesus and wait for the glorious hope of righteousness. Lord open the storehouses of Your abundant blessings and rain them down over my friend and family today. Lord Help us to know You more and more with each passing day, and may our lives and conversation be a true reflection of the life of You living in us. Lord use my friend to be a blessing that someone needs today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !!