Galatians 3:10-11. 10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Think together: What is a rule in our house or at school that is easy to follow, and what is one that is really hard to keep?
Read together:
The thing about God’s law is that unless you obey all of it, you are guilty of all of it. No one can stand in front of God and say, “Well, I only broke a couple of Your rules.” God says that if we even break just one of His rules, we are guilty of breaking all of His rules. As Paul says in Galatians 3:10, you must “abide by all things written in the law.”
But that’s not even the hardest thing Paul says. What is? “Cursed.” Cursed? Yes, cursed. When Paul says that we will be cursed, He’s not talking about a magic spell that turns us all into frogs. He’s talking about God’s curse—because we sin, we deserve to be punished, separated from God forever.
Most people think that as long as their good outweighs their bad, then they will be OK with God. I’ve heard many people say that they have tried their best, or that they have done many good things so God won’t punish them. But that is not true at all. When we try to earn our way to God by being good and obeying His rules, well, that only leaves us cursed. Guilty. Condemned.
I guess if we could actually obey each and every one of God’s laws we could earn eternal life, but only Jesus could ever successfully do that. The rest of us are cursed. We deserve punishment and we feel bad about all the ways we mess up. That’s the curse.
Do something together: Play Jenga together. When the tower eventually falls, talk together about what fell. Did just one block fall or did the whole tower fall? How does this illustrate God’s law? Remember, Jesus played Jenga for us perfectly (He kept the whole law perfectly).
Because of Jesus: We no longer have to keep the law perfectly.
With Jesus: We will never be cursed again.
Pray: Father, I know that I need to obey you, and I also know that I usually mess up and sin. But I know that you don’t curse me because I have Jesus in my heart. Help me obey you from his live and goodness, not my own. Amen.
