October 13

"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins,

that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."

Galatians 1:3-5

Christ did not die merely to save us from eternal doom, blessed as that aspect of salvation is; but He “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver (or save) us from this present evil age.” The age is evil because Christ has been rejected and men are living in independence of God. From this the believer is delivered as he recognizes his identification with Christ in His death. Because of the fact that He died in our place, as our representative, we too have died. We have died to the law, died to sin, died to self, and died to the world that has no place for Christ.

Farewell! Henceforth my place

Is with the Lamb who died.

My Sovereign! While I have Thy love,

What can I want beside?

Thyself, dear Lord, art now

My free and loving choice,

“In whom, though now I see Thee not,

Believing, I rejoice!”

Shame on me that I sought

Another joy than this,

Or dreamt a heart at rest with Thee

Could crave for earthly bliss!

These vain and worthless things,

I put them all aside;

His goodness fills my longing soul,

And I am satisfied.

Lord Jesus! let me dwell

“Outside the camp,” with Thee.

Since Thou art there, then there alone

Is peace and home for me.

Thy dear reproach to bear

I’ll count my highest gain,

Till Thou return, my banished King,

To take Thy power, and reign!

—Margaret Mauro