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Consider it joy. Not because the trouble itself is good, but because we know God is good. Not because we know how every situation will turn out, but because we know the One in whom we have placed our faith. And not because we are strong enough to manage everything ourselves, but because our generous God promises to give us the wisdom we need.

Not do more. Not try harder to earn something. Just, don't let today be another thing you save for later.

He has walked our life, resisted all temptation and come through the other side. We stand now in His complete righteousness and that is why we can come boldly and directly into Gods throne room. It’s all because of Jesus.

That can only happen when we’re resting on the right foundation - that God has already saved us. We don’t change ourselves to save ourselves, we are obligated to change because God has saved us.

So let’s stop looking for our identity in the wrong places and go back to the source, go back to the one who made us. Allow God to make you into who He wanted you to be and find the freedom of not trying to be something you never could.

You don't need to live on probation. The work is finished. Your sin has been dealt with. You have been made perfect in Christ. And now, because you have been made holy in Him, the Holy Spirit is at work making your life look increasingly like the person God has already declared you to be.

This covenant means God is directly involved in your life, His promises can be trusted, Christ has kept the agreement where you and I couldn’t. Where we try to argue the rules, as if we were in court trying to get off on a technicality, now the rules aren’t external, they are internal standards that are embedded in a heart.

New Covenant, New Wisdom - WK1 - A Better Conenant - If Jesus already tore up the old contract and handed you something new, something you didn't negotiate, didn't qualify for, and definitely didn't earn, what would actually change this week if you believed that all the way down? Not believed it as a doctrine you'd tick a box on a form for. Believed it enough to stop checking the small print on a deal that's already been fully settled on your behalf. You're not on probation. You never were, not since the cross. There's no clause. There's no get-out. There's no fine print with your name in it.

You are a new creation. Church don't spend your life trying to become what Christ has already declared you to be. Believe the Gospel. Walk in the freedom He has won. Live in the power of His Spirit. And let His grace continue transforming you until the day we finally see Him face to face.

Galatians began with Paul addressing critical issues that got in the way of the believers faith - relying on the law to make them right with God rather than Jesus. It’s significant that the last thing Paul talks about is our own actions - what we ‘do’ for God - and how we live for him.

Therefore, we need to not be jealous of others, but we need to be faithful with what God has given us. This is hard in church. If you are struggling in a certain area, because we’re in a community there will almost certainly be someone who is not, but there will also almost certainly be someone who has struggled too.

We are not slaves. We are not on probation. We are not waiting to be accepted. We are children of the free woman. Born of promise. Fully loved. Completely held. Christ has set us free, so we stay free (Galatians 5:1). Stay free. Not because we earned it. Because he gave it.

So, as we approach this time, let us come not as slaves trying to earn approval, but as sons and daughters. Let us come with gratitude and confidence. Let us come remembering that at just the right time, Christ came for us. And because of Him, we can truly say: "Abba, Father."

This passage is all about holding on to the truth of the gospel. It is such good news and we need to pass it on, faithfully and truthfully. Maybe have a think this week as to how you can share this with others in a loving way

The gospel isn’t of human origin. It’s divine rescue. It doesn’t begin with you pulling yourself together. It begins with God revealing His Son. It isn’t maintained by your performance. It’s sustained by grace.