“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” Galatians 3:1-9

Have you ever heard a person described as someone who “forgot where they came from” or had “forgotten their roots”? This type of person usually doesn’t give credit to those in their life who helped them get to where they presently are. Maybe they came from a small farming town and now live in the big city and don’t want to get their hands dirty. They may be neglecting family or friends who were there with them from the very beginning. This doesn’t just happen outside the church, but inside the church as well.

Paul was dealing with the church in Galatia that was forgetting where they had come from. They were starting to follow the Jewish teachers who were teaching that Christians had to obey the Law of Moses, observe religious festivals, and follow dietary restrictions just like the Israelites did. They had forgotten that they were saved by faith alone through God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8).

We must always remember where we came from as followers of Jesus Christ — that we believe in Grace — and are saved by faith, not by works of the law. This is our roots. The grace of G-d is the essence of our walk with Jesus. We can do nothing on our own to earn his favor. As years of putting our faith in Jesus alone go by, we tend to forget this and focus on our deeds instead of the work of Jesus. Christ gives us Amazing Grace — remember your roots.

Pastor Dave