This is Friday’s Common Lectionary Bible reading, which we will include in the Cam Villages pop-up prayer.
Galatians 3.1-14
1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed amongst you as crucified? 2 I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles amongst you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” 1 7 Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”2 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”3 11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”4 12 The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.”5
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”6 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
1. 3.6: Genesis 15.6
2. 3.8: Genesis 12.3, 18.18, 22.18
3. 3.10: Deuteronomy 27.26
4. 3.11: Habakkuk 2.4
5. 3.12: Leviticus 18:5
6. 3.13: Deuteronomy 21.23
Psalm 3
A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
1 LORD, how my adversaries have increased!
Many are those who rise up against me.
2 Many there are who say of my soul,
“There is no help for him in God.”
Selah.
3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
4 I cry to the LORD with my voice,
and he answers me out of his holy hill.
Selah.
5 I laid myself down and slept.
I awakened; for the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people
who have set themselves against me on every side.
7 Arise, LORD!
Save me, my God!
For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone.
You have broken the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the LORD.
May your blessing be on your people.