Today's Passage - Galatians 4:21-26

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Galatians 4: 21-26      ...For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.                  There are two types of Christians; one type is to live the Christian life according to the flesh and blood, and the other type is to become a Christian as the result of a divine promise. Many people live their entire Christian lives according to the flesh and blood, only after the church to do this and not to do that. This mode is hard for Christians, with no breath of life, the gathering is just for the peace of mind, the ministry is just a responsibility, and so it gets more trying the more you serve. The result is bitterness for Christians living according to the flesh. The other type is Christians as the result of a divine promise; there is the relationship in Christ. Once he accepts Jesus as personal savior, then he forms a close relationship with the Lord that is a loving relationship, no longer working for the sake of work, rather it is for the sake of love. A Christian born as the result of a divine promise no longer live according to his own talents and he is willing to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and follows the leading of the Spirit, enjoying God's presence. We need to learn in God to live the Christian lives as the result of a divine promise, and let this loving relationship to become the power of our ministries.                  I once saw a card with a picture of a housewife in the act of hanging garments on the clothesline with a note below it: "Never-ending tasks". Washing and drying the clothes every day, it's never ending work, why would this housewife readily keep repeating these never-ending tasks? Because of love, she loves her family members, so all these are not sufferings. It's the same in the process of serving, in Christian lives; it's also because of love and the loving relationship with the Lord.                  Why do you attend every Sunday service? Is it for the gathering among the few friends? Is it the sense of responsibility? Or is it you really love and desire God? Then why do you serve God? Is it because the pastor has asked you to do so? Is it because you feel you have to do it? Or is it the love of the Lord that draws you? It is difficult to sustain a Christian life without the love of the Lord; ask the Lord to help us enter the ministry of divine promise, not the flesh.                                                                          Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, we ask your Spirit to check and forgive us if we serve according to the flesh and the blood. Lead us into serving by divine promise, having a close relationship with you, and give us the desire to long for your presence. We give thanks and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!