Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
Summary: What does it mean to live in faith? How do we act when we are no longer under a guardian? These questions haunt everyone who strives to live a life of faith in Jesus.
When Paul writes, “Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,” he tells us that instead of relying on the law, we now rely on something else.
In my life journey, the question of what we rely on for salvation has been important. As I wrote in our last meditation:
“In discovering Jesus, we come to know him. To know him is to trust him. Trust is another name for faith, so to trust Jesus is to have faith in him. Faith leads to obedience, and obedience becomes visible evidence of faith.”
If it is true that obedience is the “visible evidence of faith” (See James 2: 14-26), then why do so many people who profess faith indulge in things that appear to defile them (Mark 7:20-23)?
Now, I realize that I have to be very careful here. I cannot point the finger at others without pointing three fingers at myself! So it is with humility that I raise this point. I am wholly dependent on Jesus to forgive my indiscretions and heal the wounds I have inflicted on my soul.
Throughout my life, I have looked for people of faith, people no longer under a guardian, to help me find my faith. Instead, I often met people who claimed to have faith and who, instead of helping me know Jesus, offered me their version of rules and laws to follow.
Occasionally, God has placed people in my path who have worked to help me find Jesus. Sometimes, I am ashamed to say, I wasn’t able to recognize them or what they were trying to do. Now and then, one would break through into my world of self-centeredness and be able to get my attention. Whenever that happened, when someone finally broke through, it was because they acted in love. If they were people of faith, they were trusting Jesus instead of trusting in their understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Now, I am trying to live my faith in Jesus. My Lord says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Then My Lord says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
This is the conundrum of faith: there are two me’s. One “me” is willful and self-centered. The other “me” is a little child looking for a Savior. Jesus speaks to the little child in me. To deny my “self” is to deny the other “me.” This is who the cross is for. The “little child” in me is who the law was for.
When the child inside takes up the cross, the “other me” is on it. My “other me” does not go quietly. When I put him on the cross, he screams in anger and pain. Yet, strangely, in the light of Jesus’ smile, those screams fade into the distance as Jesus takes my hand and leads me into the light.
Application: Strive to live for Jesus.
Food for Thought: How do we know when “faith has come?”
If we trust in Christ for salvation, then faith has come. If we rely on God’s way of making us right with Him – through faith in Christ, then faith has come to us. John 1: 12 – 13; 1 John 5: 11 – 13.
Beautifully said!
Thank you, Rich!
How do we know when “faith has come?”
As Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure, He told His disciples.
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John 16:8“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment to come.
In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul explains our faith in God, in response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, also comes from God. Each sinner discovers their true condition and must choose to turn from sin, receive Christ, or reject Christ and continue life apart from God.
Ephesians 2:8-9, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Thank you, Ron!
I appreciate the emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit!
Good devotion this morning. I can appreciate and understand how you have expressed your journey in faith. I really like the comments that have been given this morning.
I would only add this: your question to me speaks of evidence. Evidence of faith is a tough thing to define. I have heard some say, you have it or you don’t. Yikes, but what if you want it? How then, do you “get it?” As you have said, others point to “signs of faith.” Yikes, slippery slope, one might rely on works rather than faith in Christ.
So I would have to say this.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
I hear the word of Christ and I believe.
Great! So I read the Word and now I have faith? Just have faith that I have faith? No, we must act in faith. We must exercise our faith.
James 2:17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Sounds a bit like double talk.
Lets say this:
I hear the Word of Christ, I make him Lord of my life, I give Him my faith, that I choose to believe in Him, and when I act, in what I think and say and do, I look to Him, I give it to Him in faith that He will show what love requires. Then the evidence of my faith is reveiled in the workings of the Holy Spirit in my life. That the choices presented to me, and the choices made, aligned with the Will of the Father, and peace abides in my heart.
Sometimes I have to go through the ringer before I can ask in faith. Sometimes I ask almost as if it is second nature. As far as I can tell, the difference between those two depends on how often I read the Word, pray, praise, and what I allow to captivate my mind.
Thanks Chris!
Interesting comment. Your point about ‘evidence of faith’ is an important one. Only God knows the heart. We can “see” evidence of faith (Galatians 5:22-23), but we cannot know if there is not faith. Like planting a seed in the ground, the seed is there even if we can’t see it. It grows even when it is beneath the dirt.
How do we know when “faith has come?”
When the worries of this world has left.
Faith came with the Spirit. That is when people begin to be able to live “out” of the Law.
Nicely said, T.A.N!
🙂