Did You Receive the Spirit by Believing?

This meditation is based on a passage for December 22, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Galatians 3:1-14

Reflection and Question: Paul’s whole question to the Galatians is this: “Did you receive the Spirit by doing works of the law or by believing what you heard?” And his answer is implied in the question and in his harsh exclamation, “You foolish Galatians!” Paul insists that we are to believe based upon what we have heard, as Abraham did. The law of circumcision came after Abraham’s faith in God’s promise, not before (Genesis 15, 17). Paul concludes, “Those who believe are blessed” and this is as true for LGBT Christians as it is for all other Christians. How do you receive the Holy Spirit? By works or faith?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, shine down upon us as with the light of this day. Find us not foolish. Find us following in the footsteps of Abraham and the Gentiles of old whose faith, not works, opened them to Your blessing. Be at our start and our end. Amen.