August 28, 2018 - NOT THE LABORS OF MY HAND

Day 240 - (Today’s Bible readings: Deuteronomy 11:1-21; Psalm 57; Galatians 2:15-3:9)

“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)

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. However, our text for today reminds us that we are made right with God (justified), not by our works. Instead, we are made right with God by faith in the work 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, CPH, 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

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!