26/4/26 – At the Cross – Easter Series

Devotional

Day 1: Cursed No More

Jesus hung on a splintered cross under a darkened sky. Roman soldiers cast lots for His clothes. Religious leaders mocked His claim to be Messiah. Yet in that moment, Christ became the curse Deuteronomy warned about - absorbing the penalty we deserved. The law’s demands fell silent as He declared “It is finished.”[09:55]

The cross transformed curses into covenant. Where the law exposed our failure, Jesus’ sacrifice secured our freedom. He didn’t reform our behavior - He rewrote our identity. Holiness became a gift, not a goal.

When guilt whispers “God is disappointed,” remember the cross canceled your debt. What shame do you still carry as if the curse remains?

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’”
(Galatians 3:13, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for swallowing your curse at Calvary. Name one specific failure He bore.

Challenge: Write three words describing past guilt on paper. Pray “Jesus, you carried this,” then tear it up.

Day 2: Adopted Without Application

A royal herald needs no résumé. When Galatians says God “sent forth His Son,” it describes a king dispatching his heir. Jesus didn’t broker a truce - He stormed the prison walls. The Father adopts rebels as heirs while blood still stains their hands.[14:32]

Salvation works backward. We don’t clean up to earn adoption; adoption cleans us up. Like the Prodigal Son’s father, God runs while we’re still filthy. His grace isn’t a reward - it’s the reason we change.

Who do you know that still believes they must “get better first” before approaching God?

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
(Galatians 4:4-5, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal someone feeling unworthy of His love. Commit to encourage them this week.

Challenge: Text one person: “God’s not waiting for you to improve. He’s already running.”

Day 3: The Companion Who Stays

Two girls waited at the school gate, backpacks bouncing. Their job: stick close all day. Jesus promised better than temporary guides - the Spirit moves in, not just alongside. Pentecost flames birthed an indwelling Friend who navigates traffic jams, kitchen messes, and hospital vigils.[17:19]

The Holy Spirit isn’t a Sunday guest. He translates our groans, corrects our course, and whispers our true name. Relationship thrives when we acknowledge His constant presence.

Where have you relegated God to “formal dining room” encounters instead of daily companionship?

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth.”
(John 14:16-17, ESV)

Prayer: Confess areas where you’ve ignored the Spirit’s presence. Ask for awareness of His nearness.

Challenge: Set three phone alarms labeled “Spirit here.” When they ring, note what He’s prompting.

Day 4: Dusty Welcome

Jesus stands at the door knocking, not waiting for us to hide the laundry or scrub the floors. The formal dining room stays empty while He heads straight to the cluttered kitchen. Relationship happens amid unmade beds and unpaid bills.[21:00]

God prefers honest mess over polished performances. Like the bleeding woman who touched Jesus’ cloak, He meets us mid-struggle. Our job isn’t to pretend - it’s to present.

What part of your life have you been “tidying” before letting God in?

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
(Hebrews 4:16, ESV)

Prayer: Invite Jesus into one unpolished area. Say “This is me right now.”

Challenge: Leave one household chore undone today as a reminder: God comes as you are.

Day 5: Grace Before Grades

The law was God’s diagnostic - revealing our terminal condition. Grace is His cure. Ephesians says we’re “God’s workmanship,” not self-made projects. A sculptor doesn’t ask clay for résumés; the Potter shapes what He already owns.[13:11]

Your standing depends on Christ’s performance, not yours. Good works flow from security, not toward it. Striving insults the Cross; rest honors it.

When do you slip into “earning mode” with God?

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
(Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for three gifts you didn’t earn: breath, salvation, today.

Challenge: Do one kind act today without telling anyone. Let it be between you and the Potter.

Sermon Summary

God pursues relationship with humanity, not distance or condemnation. The law in the Old Testament revealed God’s holy standard and exposed human inability to meet it, but the law could only manage sin’s symptoms and could not cleanse the heart. Christ removed that barrier by taking the penalty owed by sinners, breaking the curse of the law so people can stand forgiven before God and draw near without paying a debt they cannot cover. Grace does not arrive after merit. Salvation does not require a cleaned record or impressive credentials. Adoption into God’s family comes as a gift received by faith, not earned by proving worthiness. That gift reorients identity and purpose rather than leaving people to tidy themselves up before approaching the king. Finally, belief results in God giving his presence as an ongoing companion. The Holy Spirit indwells believers, guiding, comforting, and prompting daily decisions so new life becomes practical and lived, not merely a future hope. Relationship with God therefore looks like access to the throne, adoption as children, and continual companionship rather than a distant, conditional arrangement. The gospel calls people to draw near with confidence, to allow God to clean and change the heart, and to live under the tutelage of the Spirit. Questions for reflection sharpen this reality: do mistakes push people away from God, or is God the one who removes the distance; is awareness of the Spirit a Sunday experience or a daily companionship; does anyone wait to tidy life before answering the knock at the door, or does God initiate entry and transformation now. The invitation stands open: receive what Christ accomplished, accept the adoption offered, and walk in the newness enabled by the Spirit.

Key Takeaways

1. Christ removed the curse of law Christ paid the penalty that the law required, so obedience no longer functions as the currency of access to God. This is not a license to neglect holiness, but the foundation that enables genuine transformation rather than mere rule-keeping. The work on the cross makes intimate access possible now and for eternity, shifting the relationship from distance to nearness. [04:16]
2. Grace precedes any human proving God grants relationship without a background check or merit dossier, making adoption a received gift rather than an achieved status. This frees identity from performance and reorients motivation: good works flow out of being loved, not into earning love. Expectation shifts from self-justification to faithful response. [12:17]
3. The Spirit dwells as daily companion The Holy Spirit indwells believers to guide, convict, and enable new life so that salvation becomes practical habit and formation rather than theory. That presence creates ongoing access to God’s wisdom, comfort, and correction, turning small daily choices into realms of relationship. Paying attention to the Spirit’s promptings trains the soul in holiness. [15:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:56] - Opening prayer and baptism celebration
[01:37] - Series introduction At the Cross
[03:57] - Misconceptions about God’s anger
[04:16] - Proof 1: Christ broke the curse of the law
[12:17] - Proof 2: Relationship is not earned
[15:21] - Proof 3: The Holy Spirit as companion
[19:08] - Recap and reflection questions
[21:00] - Jesus at the door invitation
[23:25] - Closing prayer and charge

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Galatians 3:13 (ESV)
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.'"

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

John 14:16-17 (ESV)
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."

Observation Questions

According to Galatians 3:13, how did Christ remove the curse of the law?
What does Ephesians 2:8-10 say about the role of human effort in salvation?
In John 14:16-17, what does Jesus promise about the Holy Spirit’s presence and purpose?
The sermon compared the law to treating symptoms of contaminated water rather than fixing the source. What does this analogy reveal about the law’s limitations? [06:59]

Interpretation Questions

Why was it necessary for Christ to “become a curse” (Galatians 3:13) to redeem us, rather than just abolishing the law?
Ephesians 2:8-10 states that good works flow from salvation, not into it. How does this redefine motivation for obedience compared to rule-keeping?
The sermon described the Holy Spirit as a “daily companion” rather than a “Sunday experience.” How does John 14:16-17 support this idea of ongoing relationship? [15:21]
The analogy of a formal dining room ([20:15]) suggested people often delay approaching God until they feel “cleaned up.” How does this contrast with Ephesians 2:8-10?

Application Questions

When you make a mistake, do you instinctively hide from God or turn toward Him? What practical step could help you respond with confidence in His grace? [19:34]
Are there areas where you still try to “prove your worth” to God through performance? How might embracing Ephesians 2:8-10 shift your daily priorities?
The Holy Spirit is compared to a GPS guiding daily decisions ([17:46]). What distractions make it hard to hear His promptings, and how could you create space to listen this week?
Have you ever delayed pursuing God until you felt “good enough”? What would it look like to invite Him into your current mess instead? [21:00]
How can you remind yourself this week that your identity is rooted in being a received child of God (Galatians 4:5) rather than an achiever?
The sermon asked, “Is awareness of the Spirit a Sunday experience or a daily companionship?” What tangible habit could deepen your awareness of His presence in ordinary moments?

Sermon Clips

If God waited for us to deserve relationship with him or prove ourselves worthy, it would never happen. But God had a different plan. He sent Jesus so that we could freely come to him. Galatians four five says, to redeem those who are under the law, it's Jesus, that we might receive adoption as sons of God. You know, if you are to be adopted, it's not like as someone needing to be adopted needs to prove themselves to someone. They don't need to show that they've got a perfect record to their potential family. And the same here, God adopts us. We don't need to prove ourselves. He welcomes us in as his own. [00:14:14] (52 seconds) #AdoptedByGod

The second proof that God pursues relationship with you is that he doesn't wait for you to deserve it. I wonder if anyone here today has had a face to face catch up with King Charles. Anyone? There he is in his splendor there. Anyone tried to have a catch up with with King Charles? I don't think so. And I googled, how might I go about setting up an appointment with King Charles? And it is near impossible for me, anyway. The people that catch up with King Charles are military leaders, prominent, leaders in communities, nation leaders, people of high standing. And this is not the case with God. [00:11:45] (54 seconds) #GodWelcomesAll

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26/4/26 – At the Cross – Easter Series – Elise