Contemplative Bible Reading

Galatians 3:22 (New Living Translation)

22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

Paul is writing to the churches in Galatia. We are all prisoners of sin.

Picture that. Imagine that. There is a prison. I am not only in a cell, but I am chained to the wall. This place is filthy. The odor is … well I can’t describe it. This is the worse place on earth. It is evil through and through. And I am here because I am a sinner.

Okay, if I stop sinning, someone will let me out of this prison. Come on you so-and-so, let me out. Oops I just sinned again by calling the man with the keys an old so-and-so. Hmm. Let’s see, how can I justify my release without blaming someone else or denigrating someone else or … oh wait, I’ll blame ice cream or some thing instead of some person. Yes. Nope. That won’t work either. I am still sinning as I try to justify my release.

There is no release, is there? Yes, there is. The release comes by believing that this Jesus from Nazareth is the Christ or Messiah. The Son of God was sent here to bring me out of prison.

Believe. Act like I believe. Simple. Can I do it? Yes, with the help of God to me, a poor sinner.