Daily Devotional For Thursday, September 11, 2025
Good morning folks. Some of you may remember this day from 2001 – it was a day of tragedy for America when terrorists seized control of 4 airlines and brought the worst attack on American soil in centuries. Please take some time today to pray for our nation and the families who lost lives on this horrific day. In Galatians 3:26-28, the Apostle Paul writes this:
“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. (28) There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (NLT).
Prior to this passage in Galatians 3, Paul was talking about the Law but now to those who are in Christ, they have a new identity — Jesus Christ. Christians are no longer children of the Law, but they are believers and disciples of Jesus Christ. By being adopted by God into His family we now have imputed righteousness and a new identity. And because of this, there no longer exists any criteria other than Christ that determines our identity – not our race, not our gender, not our liberty or lack of, but Jesus Christ. It is not that these distinctions are erased and gone, but they are insubordinate to our relationship to Christ. Some unfortunately have taken verse 28 as the basis for unisex bathrooms – they are wrong to make this assumption here.
Let me give a modern example – adoption. I know white parents who adopt Asian and African children. It no longer matters the race of the parents or their adoptive children – those legally are their children and any distinction in color or race is insubordinate to that reality. Their former race or skin color were not erased; but it was trumped by a new reality – adoption. What is true on an individual basis, is true on a collective basis. Our inclusion in the church, our new community, our new identity in Christ gives us this.
Race, class and gender have been 3 huge human distinctions that have divided and separated people in the church. The strife and suffering that has come because of prejudice, racism and class, have made some reject the Lord and His church. I believe 11:00 AM on Sunday is probably the most segregated hour of the week. Paul mentions “new clothes” in verse 27. Why does he do this? Christian author Steve Farrar writes this:
“In the Roman society when a youth came of age he was given a special toga which admitted him to the full rights of the family and state and indicated he was a grown-up son. So the Galatian believers had laid aside the old garments of the Law and had put on Christ’s robe of righteousness which grants full acceptance before God. Who would want to don again the old clothing?” (Source: Steve Farrar, Point Man: How A Man Can Lead His Family, p. 29).
So, the first difference that stands out for our faith in Christ is we get a new identity by becoming part of God’s family. The second difference is we become one with all believers in Christ. Just as the Old Testament Law leveled the playing field and excludes everyone from heaven because we all are sinners before God regardless of social position, the Gospel welcomes everyone regardless of race, heritage, social standing, or gender. Jews thought they were saved because they were Jewish and God’s chosen people. Paul says no longer. Even Gentiles were not included in God’s family if they came to Christ. Everyone, regardless of race, class or gender, stands equally before God and all 3 groups are lost without Christ.
What makes us all equal regardless of race, class or gender? It is not society or the church; it is Christ. In Paul’s day a believing master held no higher spiritual position than his or her believing slave. The Gospel makes no allowances for any of us to look down on anyone due to their race, class or gender. We now are clothed in God’s imputed righteousness rather than our own self-righteousness. There has been a spiritual wardrobe change. Do you like new threads? I do and I pray that you like the new spiritual threads Christ offers you.
Assignment: Are you ever prejudiced or biased against someone due to their race, class or gender? What if Christ looked at you the way you look at them? When you look at your own church family, is it diverse or segregated? What does that tell you about your church? This week seek out and develop a friendship with someone of a different race, or class to talk about the Lord and His kingdom.
Scripture To Meditate On: Galatians 5:6, “For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, I repent from any attitude where it has been biased or prejudiced against anyone due to their race or class. Help me to see and love people the way You Do. Help me to reach out and build a bridge to others different from me so that we can together build Your kingdom. I love you Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly