Rise Daily: March 4

Rise Daily: March 4

THIS WEEK’S THEME & PASSAGE

The Centrality of the Gospel – Galatians 2:11-21

This week’s sermon from the series “Where We are Going: The City and the Mission“

THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE

Memorizing scripture is a way to keep God’s word close to our hearts. Each week we will select one verse of scripture to remember as a community.

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

THE WORD

Each day’s devotion will focus on one part of the week’s passage.

Galatians 2:15-16
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet 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.

MEDITATION ON THE WORD

In our busyness and distraction, it is easy to skim through our reading rather than taking it in. Yet we believe this is the inspired word of God. Take a moment to pause, thank God for the scriptures and ask him to speak to you through them today.

There are two sides to the coin in the Christian doctrine of justification: our sinful record and its just penalty are applied to Christ, and Christ’s sinless record and its extravagant benefits are applied to us. Done, just like that, in the once for all sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and received through trusting faith alone.

What does that mean? It means that God saw our problem – the self-destruction of sin, and our inability to do anything about it — and took upon himself the entire task of saving us. It means our failures: past, present, and future, cannot define us before a holy God. Our sinful record has been exchanged for the righteous record of Christ.

Are you desperately seeking approval? You have it through Christ!

Are you constantly anxious about your image? You are glorious in Christ!

Your identity is now Christ.

Your ultimate value is found in the ultimate source: the approval of God the Father.

From whom else would you rather find it? Whose opinion could possibly matter more than the one who knows you more intimately than you know yourself? The one who has been privy not only to every word you’ve ever uttered and every action you’ve ever committed, but even to every thought, motive, and intention of the heart, and yet he still loves you.

Freedom is being known like that, and still being loved.

Christ offers this.

We need only receive it.

THIS WEEK’S RISE REFLECTION

Increasing the number of Christians living out that gospel centered freedom will have an exponential effect on the culture of New York. Imagine gospel-centric renewal not just on a personal level, but multiplied across expressions of philanthropy, justice, mercy, reconciliation, integrity and hope across New York in ways that advance the common good. What if the culture rising out of New York had the gospel in its DNA?

TODAY’S PRAYER

For your Heart: Meditate on your new identity in Christ and ask God to help you embrace it in each area of life: e.g., your relationships and your work.

For your Church: Pray that Redeemer would be a place where many people who don’t yet know the gospel would experience the life giving joy of having their identity in Christ.

For our City: Pray that we would live in such a way that every neighborhood in our city experiences gospel renewal so that all are encouraged and more hopeful.