Day 249 - LABOR DAY
“We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16 ESV)
This is labor day. The unofficial last day of summer. The message in the picture encourages us to rest on this day. So, we rest in order to celebrate labor? Sounds confusing, doesn’t it?
What is even more confusing is all that God has to say about labor. Fist of all, work is a part of God’s plan for life. After his fall into sin, God told Adam that he would have to toil and work hard.
Our text for today reminds us that we are made right with God (justified), not by our labors. Instead, we are made right with God by faith in the labor of Christ Jesus on Calvary’s cross.
No, we are not justified by the works of our hands.
♬ Not the labors of my hands, Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone.
(Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me, Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House, 2006, #761 stanza 2)
Lord Jesus, thank Your for doing the impossible work or saving me, and all of sinful mankind. Please give me wisdom and a deep and abiding faith in You as my only Savior and Lord. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Bible Reading Plan upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
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