Daily Devotional for Monday, January 20

Hagar Was a Slave

"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman;' Galatians 4:22.

As I researched my family tree, I found that the first person to come to America bearing my last name also bore my first. John Nations was born on March 28, 1697, in Petherton, Somerset, England. Records identify him as "servant boy," for in 1710, at the age of thirteen, he came to America as the indentured servant of Mr. William Beak and was listed among Mr. Beak's possessions. Records further showed that John purchased the last seven years remaining in his obligation to Mr. Beak for two changes of fine clothes and a new double-bit axe. Tax and property documents bear out the fact that John married, raised a large family, and owned a plantation and large amount of acreage before he died on December 15th, 1774, at the age of seventy-seven. Knowing our heritage gives knowledge and understanding of who we are today.

The bondmaid of verse 22 was of course Hagar the Egyptian servant

in the house of Abram, (later Abraham) and Sarai (later known as Sarah). The circumstances surrounding Hagar's becoming Abram's wife was the result of human reasoning and fleshly thinking, both of which always fall short of the will of God. The bondmaid refers to man knows best and his way is the way of the future. The bondmaid settles for the doom of death, never knowing the fresh breath of life.

Paul wanted the Galatians to grasp the difference between the Law and grace, between life and death. Paul wanted them to know who they were in Christ. Rather than being servants bound by the death sentence of the Law, he wanted them to know they were sons of God, resting in the grace of God and possessing the life grace delivers.

THINK OF THIS

Like John, you,too,can leave servanthood and experience freedom. Jesus has paid the price; so leave the bondage of sin and death behind and embrace the life of grace. The decision is yours.

John Nations