(The following is the August 21 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Galatians 4 and pay close attention to verses 8-11.)

If someone enjoys a warm fire after being stranded in freezing temperatures for a long while, will he eagerly leave the warmth and return to the cold? Probably not. We understandably prefer to remain in better situations once we are in them.

This desire to live in a better state is Paul’s expectation of the Galatians regarding their faith in Christ compared to their lives before knowing Christ. He addressed the danger of returning to works-based righteousness rather than continuing in the freedom and grace of new life in Christ. “But in the past, since you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?” (vv. 8-9).

Paul’s plea is reminiscent of Proverbs 26:11, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so also a fool repeats his foolishness.” Many dog owners are familiar with that gross image. As unthinkable as that behavior is to humans, abandoning our life of grace in Christ and trying to earn God’s favor through our efforts is equally appalling to God. It is like returning to the vomit of our previous life without Christ. How disgusting. Likewise, Isaiah 64:6 describes the righteous deeds of the unclean as a polluted garment, which refers to a used menstrual cloth. Righteous deeds save no one, so why would believers revert to trusting in them?

The best we can bring to God is filthy rags. Living in God’s grace provides us with so much more.

Next Step:
Do you ever try to earn God’s favor through what you do? What is a more accurate biblical understanding of the role of good works in a Christian’s life?