Jesus At Home In Your Heart By Pete BriscoeSample

Leaving Law Behind

I’d rather die my way than live yours. — Lauren Oliver

The Bible says we’re dead. That’s kind of creepy. It doesn’t sound like the good news everybody needs to hear. But actually, it’s one of the most amazing, powerful truths in God’s Word: We were crucified with Christ and we’ve died. But what have we died to? That’s the question. What have we left behind?

For through the law I died to the law so that I might live… (Galatians 2:19)

Whether we realize it or not, we’re dead to the law of performance-based acceptance. We’re dead to the idea that we can do anything to earn additional favor from God. That’s powerful! With clarity, we can embrace the truth that only Jesus can do what we never could.

Somehow, in some way, when Jesus died on the cross, we did too. Reaching across time, our souls cried out in anguish—the same anguish as Jesus on the cross—and right there, we breathed our last and said “so long” to a life of performance for God’s sake.

Wonderfully, this death serves a most beautiful purpose.

“So that…” When I read this tiny transitional phrase in Scripture, my eyes are peeled for purpose. For what purpose did I die to the law? For what purpose did I try to stop gaining God’s favor through ritual and performance? “So that I might live.”

Die and live. That’s what Jesus offers to everyone who’s exhausted—tired of trying to earn God’s free gift of grace in Christ. So, leave law behind and step into Life with the Spirit. You won’t regret it!

Giver of Life, what an invitation! What an exchange. You’re calling me to leave behind a life of rules and “not enough”s so You can give me a life of acceptance that’s more than enough. I accept. Wholeheartedly, I accept death. It’s what I’ve been waiting for—a call to live. Amen.