REMEMBERING GOD’S SALVATION GIFT TO MANKIND, AND TO YOU

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who 
gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according 
to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 
(Galatians 1:3-5)

MEDITATION:
Remember the feelings of euphoria you had when you received God’s salvation?
Most people can recall that moment with joy, praise and thankfulness.
However, as time passes, and the demands of living occupy their thoughts, 
the remembrance of that moment may get pushed back into the recesses 
of the minds of many.

This was not the case with Paul.
Years after His encounter with the Lord, 
his salvation was still a vivid memory, and he was bold 
in reminding others of the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins.

In his letter to the Galatian Christians, his greeting pointed to the 
blessings of inviting God (and Jesus) to have an active part in their lives.
He reminded them of God’s grace which made it possible for them to be saved.
He also mentioned the blessing of peace which are included with salvation.

Apparently Paul was not going to overlook 
what Jesus did for him (and everyone else) when He voluntarily 
gave His life on the cross so that all people could be saved.
If you notice, 
Paul said that His crucifixion ‘rescued us from the present evil age’.
First of all, 
we can see that Paul lived in an ‘evil age’ the same as we do today.

Secondly, the question arises, “How did He rescue us from the evil age?”
Since He didn’t take us out of the world immediately when we were saved, 
then Paul must be implying that we are given 
the ability to live a new kind of life.
Salvation changes us; it gives us the promise of enjoying peace 
and the capability of coping with the evils of this life.

Why? Because we swap our will for God’s Will.
God has the formula for peace; we do not.
As much as most people like to be in control, 
and as difficult as it is to allow the Holy Spirit to be in control, 
those who surrender their will can enjoy the peace God promises.

Lastly, Paul reminded them that God and Jesus worked in unison 
to complete His plan for the salvation of mankind.
Don’t you love the way Paul launches into praising God for His plan?
When he says, “Amen”, we can see that his greeting to the Galatians was also 
a prayer for their well-being, and a praise to God for His mercy and grace.
It is a good example of how prayer is our opportunity 
to voice our concerns to the Lord, and 
to express our praise and thankfulness for His unconditional love for us.

ACTION:
Has the remembrance of your salvation been diluted by other things?
You can have all kinds of issues in this life, 
but your greatest concern should be about where you will spend eternity.
Problems come and go, but eternity lasts forever.

God gives you what you need to have peace in this evil world, 
so it is important to stay connected to Him daily, 
to be continually thankful for His gift of salvation, 
and to fearlessly live out your life under the control of the Holy Spirit.
Yes, that means surrendering your own will, 
but the rewards are well worth the sacrifice.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your salvation plan! Thank for Your 
graciousness and for the peace You offer to all who believe in Jesus 
and the sacrifice He made for us on the cross. Thank You Jesus, for 
completing God’s salvation plan! I am humbled when I think about how 
You gave Your entire life for me and how little of my life I give to You 
in return. Help me to surrender my will to Your Will and to allow the 
Holy Spirit to guide me in living out a life of faith in this evil age.”

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