"The Creed" Devotional
Galatians Part 5
Part of Devotionals
November 1, 2022

Every family is different. Some always eat around the dinner table at the same time each day; and some must be more strategic in finding time together. Both focus on building relationship, just in different ways. It is in these moments that we lay the foundation our children can build upon.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. —Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

The same is true for our Heavenly Father. He desperately wants a relationship with us, yet we often get caught up in the rules of religion rather than accepting true freedom through relationship with Him.

Journal: What religious practice do you hold onto that focuses more on the act than your relationship with God? If you struggle to answer, ask yourself what is your motivation in this religious practice.

Many find comfort in rules and regulations. There can be a false sense of security in them. Our confidence often lies in what we do instead of in Whom we put our faith. It becomes about what church we attend, in what area we serve, and even the traditions we keep. Instead of having a relationship with Jesus, we end up bound to religion.

You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you. —Galatians 5:7-10

Our world is fallen, and the enemy is out to destroy. He knows it begins with us. If he can distort the gospel through false teaching and lead us astray, our hope may be lost. One of the most dangerous things we can encounter in Christianity is adding to God’s Word. It completely destroys what the Holy Spirit is trying to do. We must anchor our lives in the infallible Word of God to successfully navigate the world today and raise our families to know the love of Jesus.

Journal: Share a time when you were temporarily led astray by false teaching and what ultimately helped you realize the truth about it.

It may feel like our war is with people, for we see faces behind our pain. Fathers who have shown neglect, friends who have betrayed, and leaders who have abused our misguided trust are just a few. Our war isn’t with people at all. There’s a real enemy attacking our families, but God’s Word has everything we need to detect his devices. It’s filled with stories of our Heavenly Father’s perfect love. We can stop generational curses by pointing our children to Him. Because He is perfect, we no longer carry the weight of perfection on our shoulders. We can have a relationship with Him in spite of our brokenness. On our worst day, Jesus is still our best friend and the Father we need.

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. —2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Are you holding yourself to an impossible standard? Do you struggle with doubt and fear? Put on the armor of God each day, go before Him in prayer, embrace Him as your perfect Heavenly Father, and raise up your sons and daughters to do the same.

Journal: What has God revealed to you through this message and devotional? What changes do you need to make to fully embrace Him as your Father and to protect your family from the enemy?

Activation: Put into action what God has revealed to you, and journal what He does in your life as a result.

Prayer for your family:

Father, help me and my family to know the infinite depths of your perfect love. May we trust in your love that never fails. Amen

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. —Ephesians 3:17-19 NKJV