Yesterday at the Village we began the New Year by delving into what our lives will look like over the next year. We found ourselves in Galatians 3:5-14 asking the question, “What brings the work of God into our lives? Is it our works of the law? Or is it our faith?”

We make so many commitments at the beginning of the year. Millions make resolutions in January, but the stat is that only 6 % of people keep those New Year’s Resolutions. We are terrible at keeping commitments, so does that mean that hope is lost? This section of Galatians shows that our failures are not what sums up our lives. Instead, it is dependence on the promises of God that bring His works into our lives.

Paul uses the life of Abraham as an example. Beginning in Genesis 12, Abraham follows God to becoming a great nation. From the beginning though, it is noticeable that Abraham is not responsible for this at all. He does not seek God out; God seeks him out. He does not make a commitment to God; God commits to Him. Abraham must simply root his faith in God. He must trust that God will follow through with what He said He would. Because of this, He is able to follow God. Without faith though, this is impossible.

Our concept of what it means to commit to God must not be based on what we are giving God, but rather, what God has promised us. In this, He becomes the basis for faith rather than our works for Him. We can do nothing for God, but rather, He desires to transform our lives. Through this, He replaces our life with His life. He gives us a new vision for what life could be. Notice that Abraham leaves his life in order to follow God for the vision that God has laid out for Him. Too often, we attempt to give God the vision for what our life should be. God doesn’t fit into our plan; instead He replaces our plan with His plan. This is transformation.

It takes no faith to live life based on the same desires everyone else has. God desires a people who will live for His glory. We must be completely dependent on Him. Abraham did not manufacture a vision that would lead to the redemption of the world through the Son of God. It was God’s plan and God’s design. Abraham simply trusted God. This is the basis for the Gospel. God has promised life through His Son. God has placed our debt of sin wholly on His Son. Jesus became a curse for us, yet we still attempt to plan the vision out ourselves. God’s vision for Abraham is God’s vision for us: To live lives trusting fully in Him to be who He says He is and to do what He says He will do.

When we attempt to fit God into our lives and commitments, we are always left disappointed and jaded towards others and God. When we are the planner, failure is close at hand. When God is the planner, redemption always takes place. Stop committing to a life that is going to fail. Trust God for what He has promised. He has promised a life through His Son, Jesus.

Tags: Sunday Message Recap