Many years ago, (over 30 years) I was flying to Puerto Rico to meet up with a business gathering for my husband’s company (spouses were invited). I spent the first night alone and felt discouraged not just because my luggage was lost but because I did not feel “one” with my husband. Sitting out on the balcony with the moon shining over the ocean, I heard the powerful sound of the waves ebbing and flowing.

As I poured out my heart to God, I was encouraged by the thought that although the wave pushing the water onto the shore was extremely powerful…the current sucking it back out to sea was just as powerful! Suddenly, I visualized my marriage relationship with a new perspective. Even though we may reach the goal in different ways, we had the same end result in mind. Harmony and power go hand in hand to make a relationship strong. The important part is to stay in rhythm or in sync.

Since then, God has not only sustained but blessed our marriage in ways that could never be attributed to merely “good works” or “good decisions on our part”. Faith is what started a heart of love in each of us. It is God’s good purpose that prevails still.

In the passage below, Paul is reminding the Galatians about Father Abraham. Although the Jewish Christians were tempted to show their righteousness by performing good works from the Law of Moses, Paul reminded them that faith in God and the filling of the Holy Spirit were a result of the power of Christ alone making them right in God’s eyes. How else did Abraham gain favor with God, if not through faith?

Just as a marriage relationship harmoniously working together is an example of great power, Christ and the church working together will bring God’s love to the world. #brideofChrist

We are living in a time when this is needed more than ever. The blessing of the Abrahamic covenant is available to the world through those who trust God.

Being crucified with Christ may start in our relationships at home, letting His love flow through us in powerful ways.

It will touch everyone around and is not in vain.

Lord, give me new eyes to see the harmony and power of God today as I trust you.-Teresa #goodnews #thegospel #John1:12

Galatians 2:20,21;3:1-9 English Standard Version **

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness^[a] were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. ² Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by^[b] the flesh? ⁴ Did you suffer^[c] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— ⁶ just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

⁷ Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. ⁸ And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify^[d] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” ⁹ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Footnotes

1. Galatians 2:21 Or justification
2. Galatians 3:3 Or now ending with
3. Galatians 3:4 Or experience
4. Galatians 3:8 Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24

**OneyearBibleonline

*big-wave-splash-with-perfect-barrel-movement-surf–7LMV4JM.jpg