August 7, 2021
Morning: Genesis 3:1-6
Noon: Psalm 97
Evening: Ephesians 2: 8,9
Legalism had its origin in the Garden of Eden. Satan got the first human couple to lose sight of the love and goodness of God by using against them the only prohibition that he had established. Satan wanted to get Eve to focus her attention on the forbidden tree and for her to stop seeing the forest around her; when she stopped seeing the forest, she lost sight of God's goodness and the intention behind the commandment.
If God is such a restrictive being, if He is not so abundant in mercy, we have to gain favor with him through good works. We have to obey God, not because we love him and trust his love, but because it is a way to obtain his love. This is the legalist way of thinking, and we all have some of it imprinted in our DNA. Have you ever tried to earn God's blessing through good works? Have you not found yourself praying, fasting, reading the Bible, or doing missionary work with the purpose that God grant you some request? God help us to understand the true gospel of Jesus Christ daily.
-Antonio Corrales
Lord, remove the legalistic heart from us and give us an ever clearer understanding of your infinite grace.
Morning: Genesis 3:1-6
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Noon: Psalm 97
1 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.
9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Evening: Ephesians 2: 8,9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
PRAYER GUIDE: [U.S. Diocese Oeste-Mckinney, TX] y [Cuba-San Francisco]
