Furious Chapter 24 Devotional

All or Nothing

I didn’t grow up in a Messianic Jewish household. I grew up in the evangelical world of the American South. We weren’t steeped in tradition, and we didn’t talk much about law-keeping. Grace was the message. And yet, even in that context, there were a few rules that carried heavy spiritual weight—rules that felt more like commandments than suggestions.

One of them was keeping the Sabbath—though, in our version, that meant no football in the yard on Sunday afternoons.

Even as a kid, something about that didn’t add up.

If we’re going to keep the Sabbath, I thought, shouldn’t we keep it the way the Bible actually describes? Technically, the Sabbath isn’t Sunday. It’s from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. And the rules around it in the Torah are very specific: no work, no kindling of fire, no travel, no gathering of sticks. In other words, it’s not a vibe—it’s a law. And if we’re going to keep the law, we don’t get to make up our own version.

That’s exactly what Paul is saying to the Galatians here. If you’re trying to earn God’s approval by keeping part of the law—like circumcision—you don’t get to pick and choose. It’s all or nothing. The law is a package deal. You either keep every regulation perfectly, or you fall short.

Paul’s point is intensely practical. If you’re going to play the law game, you better read the fine print. There’s no halfway. No bending the rules. No customizing a version that works for you. And once you realize that, the choice becomes clear: law or grace. Self-effort or surrender. Bondage or freedom.

🔥 Reflection

Are there areas where you’re subtly trying to earn God’s favor? Have you held on to certain spiritual “rules” that make you feel more acceptable to God—but aren’t rooted in grace?

🙏 Prayer

Jesus, thank You that Your grace is not a loophole or a soft option—it’s the only way. Forgive me for the times I’ve added to what You’ve finished. Teach me to trust in Your work, not mine. Amen.

📣 Call-to-Action

Take inventory of your spiritual habits this week. Are there any “rules” you follow that give you a false sense of righteousness? Bring them to Jesus and ask Him to help you walk in grace, not guilt. Don’t trade freedom for a system that was never meant to save you.