Friendship

You’ve Got A Friend In Me {Galatians 6}

4:00 PM


Monday March 16, “Walking In Wisdom”


I love the quote that says, “Sometimes just spending quality time with good friends is the only therapy you need.” From the beginning God created us for fellowship. Fellowship with Him, and with others. And so He gifted us the blessing of friendship. Friends are those special people in our lives who we trust with our secrets. The ones who know our hopes and dreams, who share our tears of joy and pain, and are the ones we can depend on when the going gets tough. Here in Galatians, Paul gives us instructions on being a real friend and how such a friendship fulfills, “the law of Christ.” (vs. 2) Now although the Bible never truly defines what this law is, and we know that we live under grace, we do know that Jesus gives us one simple command; to love. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Matt. 22:37-39) So how can we be the loving friend to others that Jesus wants us to be? By bearing one another’s burdens. 

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Prov. 17:17) They say you find out who your real friends are when you’re at your lowest. Real friends are the ones that not only stay through the bad times, they offer to help carry the load. And if that load is due to falling in sin, Paul tells us to “restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.” (vs. 1) Friends set aside their pride, remembering that we all fall short daily, all have moments of weakness, and all need help from time to time. And knowing that one day our works will be examined by God, (vs. 5) friends help friends with loving hearts that want to honor the Lord.

“The truth is, we need each other. We need to trust, rely on, and depend upon other believers. God gave us each other to walk alongside, encourage, and spur one another on in the faith. The writer to the Hebrews says, ‘And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near’. (Hebrews 10:24-25). James 5:16 says, ‘Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.’ We are to care for each other's practical needs (Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:16), warn each other of sin (1 Thessalonians 5:14) and rejoice and mourn with each other.” (Romans 12:15)....christianity.com

Sometimes it can be hard being the friend who’s always helping another; especially when we all have our own burdens to bear. But  Paul encourages us by saying, “Let us not lost heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (vs. 9)


On the night before His death, Jesus and His disciples shared one last meal together. As they reclined around the table the Lord spoke to them saying. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:12-17) To be a servant of the Lord is a great honor, but Jesus gives us an even greater honor by calling us friends. So out of thankfulness, love, and friendship, “while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” (vs. 10)


Galatians

The One True Gospel {Galatians 1}

3:11 PM



March 9 “Walking In Wisdom”


After returning to Antioch, Paul learned that Judaizers, (Jewish Christians who believed in salvation through both grace and works) were stirring up trouble in the churches of Galatia. These Judaizers were teaching a false gospel of Gentiles being required to keep the Jewish laws in order to be saved. In response, Paul wrote a letter to the members calling them back to the one true gospel. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. “ (Eph. 2:8-9) A gospel, Paul reminded them, given to him by a divine source; “For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (vs. 12) (You can read more about Paul’s life changing encounter with the Lord in Acts 9)

“Whenever someone advances a message other than the gospel of Jesus Christ or deviates from what the Bible clearly teaches, run for your life! That person promotes death, not life.”.......Dr. Charles Stanley

The adding and taking away from God’s Word is pretty serious business. So serious Paul doesn’t just tell us to stay away from those who teach a distorted gospel, he calls for a curse upon them declaring, “Even if we, or an angel of heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you any gospel contrary to what you have received, he is to be accursed!” (vs. 1:8-9) In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Paul says those who teach a different gospel are servants of Satan, and Proverbs 30:5-6 cautions, “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words or He will reprove you and you will be proved a liar.”

Whether it’s an ear tickling gospel, a prosperity gospel, or a works based gospel, if it doesn’t line up with God’s gospel, it is a false gospel. False gospels keep us chained to rules and laws. False gospels say there are many roads to God. False gospels lead to death and destruction. And false gospels tell us that through our own efforts we can earn everlasting life. But the one true gospel of Jesus Christ gives us freedom and joy, not bondage and despair. The one true gospel of Jesus Christ wipes clean our record, declaring us innocent and blameless. And the one true gospel of Jesus Christ shows us God’s great love in that He gave His only Son to die so that we may live. (John 3:16) 

“The gospel gives an explanation for our existence, clarity for our confusion, grace for our guilt, meaning for our morality, and answers for our adversaries. The gospel makes sense of the world while filling life with meaning and purpose.” (Dan DeWitt) 

As fallen people with fallen hearts, we cannot fathom such a pure, perfect, and unconditional love as is God’s love. A love whose height knows no limits, and whose depth knows no end. And most wonderful of all, a love not earned but offered freely to everyone who receives Jesus as their Savior. Once we were dead in sin, separated from our Father in heaven. But through the grace of God and the blood of His only begotten Son, we can be reconciled back to our Father in heaven forever. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) This is the only means of salvation. This is the Good News of Jesus Christ. And this is the one and only true gospel!




Adoration

You Are My Son {Hebrews 1:1-13}

4:14 PM




Monday Nov. 11, Hebrews 1:1-13

Of the many beautiful ways Jesus is described in the Bible, this is one of my favorites, “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (vs. 3) Higher than the angels, Jesus radiates God’s glory like the rays of the sun radiate its light. As the Lord Himself, He is the perfect image of the Father, who after paying our sin debt on the Cross with His precious blood, now sits at His place of honor at the right hand of God. I love how when asked about Jesus, Dr. Charles Stanley says, “Jesus is God in the flesh. He is to be worshipped as Lord, praised as Creator, recognized as Ruler, and glorified as our only Savior.” Yet sadly, some say Jesus was a great teacher or a mighty prophet, but still just a man. But God says of Jesus, “You are My Son.” (vs. 5) Additionally not just His Son, but His “beloved Son”. (Matt. 3:17) And as Lord and Savior of my life, Jesus too is my beloved and the One whom I adore.

When I looked up the definition of adoration I found it to mean a respect, reverence, or devotion to a certain person, place, or thing.  It comes from the Latin word, adōrātiō, meaning to worship someone or something. That’s exactly how I feel about Jesus. I am devoted to worshipping Him, and the love I feel for the Lord makes my heart want to burst at the seams! Why do I love Jesus you ask? Oh let me count the ways! 

I love Jesus because He gave His life for mine. (Gal. 1:4) I owed a debt I could never pay. And because of my sin I was separated eternally from God, on the path to death and destruction. But Jesus came, and through His sacrificial death on the Cross, stamped my bill “paid in full.” My Savior reconciled me back to God, and washed away the filth of my sins with His precious blood.

I love Jesus because He first loved me. (1 John 4:19) If it wasn’t for the Lord I would never have experienced what it feels like to be loved unconditionally. Knowing every mistake I would make and how I would fail Him daily, even before I was born, Jesus still choose to make me His very own. (Eph. 1:4) His love is true and constant, and I can trust that He loves me just as much when I am at my worst as He does when I’m at my best.

I love Jesus because He is my friend. (John 15:15) No truer, more loyal, friend could I ever find than in Christ. He is my greatest Champion, who not only wants the very best for me, but also helps me to achieve it. He is always there when I need Him, sharing my joy in the good times and my tears in the bad. He is my comfort and my strength. He knows me better than I know myself, and is faithful like no other. 

Many are my reasons for loving Jesus, and these are but a few. And this amazing love I share with Him, He wants to share with you. Christ suffered scorn, hatred, brutality, torture, and Crucifixion, “for the joy set before Him.” (Heb. 12:2) And what is that joy? It’s you, me, and everyone who receives Him as Lord and Savior. So if you haven’t already, I implore you to open your heart to Jesus. Let His love and forgiveness wash through you and fill your heart with love, worship, and adoration! 



Actions

Till Death Us Do Part {Galatians 6:1-10}

11:00 PM



Monday September 9


Today’s Reading-Galatians 6:1-10)

This week’s topic of commitment is personally very fitting since tomorrow is my 25th wedding anniversary. Twenty five years; a quarter of a century; a long time to be married. And in that time we’ve experienced our share of feast and famine, joys and heartaches, and love and loss. Yet no matter what life throws at us, our love and commitment to each other remains strong and unshakable.

French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre once said, “Commitment is an act, not a word.” I like that. When I think of commitment as a verb instead of a noun, it helps me to remember the important difference between determination and commitment. In my marriage my husband and I can be determined with our minds and hearts to be loyal and dedicated to each other, but is it our actions which show where our commitment truly lies.

Any successful relationship, whether it be with a spouse, a friend, a family member, or even with the Lord Himself, requires true commitment. In Galatians 6, the Apostle Paul shows us practical steps we can take to turn our words of commitment into actions of proof. 

“Bear one another’s burdens”- Just as Jesus carries our load, (Matt. 11:28-29) being committed means our shoulders should be the first ones offered to those struggling, hurting, or in need of help. 

“Each one must examine his own work”- Instead of being quick to judge or condemn, being committed means examining our own actions and remembering that we all fall short of God’s glory. (Matt. 6:23)

“Let us not lose heart in doing good”- When tough times come, being committed means continuing to do what is right; continuing to sow seeds of love and goodness knowing that God promises what we give will be given back to us. (Luke 6:38)

We’ve all heard the saying, “actions speak louder than words”.  And when it comes to commitment, no truer words were spoken. So tomorrow as my husband and I reflect on our years together and celebrate our commitment to each other, we will also celebrate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ whose perfect example of commitment inspires us everyday. 



diet

Celebrating our Freedom in Christ! {Galatians 5-6}

8:00 PM


Recently I decided it was time to start changing my eating habits! Have you noticed all the diet plans out there lately?? We have Paleo, Clean, Gluten Free, Sugar, Dairy, and Grain Free… Low Fat… Low Carb… just to name a few! The truth is, as good as these programs may be, they won’t work if you don’t stick to the plan. And that’s my problem! I’m usually pretty good for a few days...until the weekend arrives!

 This is definitely one instance where following all the rules can pay off, but let me ask you, have you, or do you know someone who has followed the plans completely, no cheating…ever!? Their entire life!? It’s good to have a plan until you stop following it!

Following a list of rules and regulations can make our journey easier at times, but when it comes to choosing a list of rules over following Christ it becomes “legalism”. What exactly is legalism?

The best definition I could find was, pursuing “good works” with the intention of earning God’s favor.  John Piper explained it this way: “The essence of legalism is when faith is not the engine of obedience”. Essentially, when we work toward earning God’s favor, we are not choosing to walk in faith. Instead, our actions seem to convey that we believe it’s all about “faith plus works”. Jesus’ work wasn’t enough, and therefore we must work to somehow gain God’s approval.

I was taught this growing up until someone showed me Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” These two verses tell us that there is nothing we could ever do to earn God’s favor and therefore, there is also nothing we can do to loose it. That’s freeing!

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery!”- Galatians 5:1


Jesus came to set us free! We discovered in the Old Testament that the Israelites were forever breaking The Law and choosing to follow other gods and other ways, and God promised, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you,” the Lord promised. “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezek. 36:26–27).

The first evidence of this new heart, or the Spirit’s presence in our life, is that we will have a deep love for God and desire to please Him, BUT will we obey Him and His commands completely?

 No. In this life, even the holiest have not been perfect. No believer is completely pure, but we now possess the beginnings of purity. Each of us, once we accept Christ, we posses the beginning of, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”(Gal 5:22-23).  These "fruits of the Spirit" are evidences of who is now large and in charge in our life.

Each day of our Christian life we are offered fresh opportunities for the life that God has begun in you to grow stronger; along with the promise that when you stand in the presence of God, what He has begun in you will be complete (Phil. 1:6).

We have the freedom to know we’ll never be perfect this side of heaven, but we’ve been given the freedom to journey through this life with a Friend who will promises to stick closer than a brother and has the power to perfect what God began in you!  

Faith

No Other Gospel {Galatians 1:1-2:21}

12:00 AM



“Salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus and nothing else.”

After returning to Antioch, Paul learned that controversy was brewing among the newly founded churches in the Roman province of Galatia. Some Jewish Christians accused him of “sweetening the pot”, so to speak, to make the message of the gospel more appealing to Gentiles. They disagreed with Paul’s teaching that Gentile believers didn’t need to follow the Jewish laws and customs to receive salvation, and told the members so. In response, Paul wrote a letter to the churches calling them back to the one true gospel he had first given them. He both warned against, and cursed those who would distort the gospel saying, “Even if we, or an angel of heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you any gospel contrary to what you have received, he is to be accursed!” (vs. 1:8-9)

Now accursed may seem like a strong word, but it shows exactly how serious a matter it is when we change God’s gospel, and twist it into a “different gospel”. For as Paul says in verse 1:11, the gospel he preaches is one that came straight from Jesus Himself. It is perfect and complete both in its meaning and simplicity, and those who change it in any way seek to, “spy out our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.” (vs. 2:2:4) Paul calls them, “false brethren” and tells us to turn away from their teachings. Rejecting the freedom that Jesus offers, they take the gospel and add rules and laws, distorting and demeaning God’s message of justified by grace through faith alone. They teach that Christ’s sacrifice was not enough and that somehow through our own works, we can earn forgiveness.

In Paul’s day the “different gospel” dividing the church was the teaching that all male believers, Jew and Gentile, needed to be circumcised under Jewish law. They couldn’t give up their ideas that no human acts, nor works, nor observance of any rule could earn them favor with God. Yet Paul says he didn’t give into pressure or yield to the ritual demands of these “false brethren”, so that “the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.” (vs. 2:5) Why was this so important to Paul? Because as he states in verse 1:7, any “different gospel” is wrong, causes nothing but trouble, and is a distortion of the true gospel. The true gospel is about faith, not works, and not the Law. God never gave us the Law as a means to earn our salvation. He knew full well how horribly we would fail in our attempt to obey it. Instead He gave it to us to show our desperate need for a Savior. And our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the perfect, and complete fulfillment of God’s Law. And as Paul tells us in verse 2:16, “A man is not justified by the works of the Law, but through faith in Christ Jesus....since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” 

Even the most devout Christian isn’t immune to struggling with the message of the gospel. Because in our fallen minds it seems too easy and good to be true, we can find ourselves creating our own “different gospel”; falling into the wrong thinking that salvation comes both through faith, and..... There is no and. There is only unmerited grace. I love this reminder by blogger Kim Shay who says, “The gospel provides freedom, not slavery.  Before we were in Christ, we were in slavery to sin; now we are free in Christ from being forced to observe what often amounts to incidentals.  Those activities we cherish will not save us, and in the end, it is like being chained to the law. If we base our salvation and standing before God in a list of behaviors, we will grow very weary very fast.”

The message of the gospel is meant for freedom and joy, not bondage and despair. It wipes clean our record of guilt and condemnation and counts us innocent and blameless. It calls us to be like Paul and declare, “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.” (vs. 2:19) Paul knew there is no grace to be found through the works of the Law, for if there were, why did Jesus have to die? Could you ever imagine saying to Jesus, “I appreciate you allowing Yourself to be rejected, tortured, and crucified, but I’ve got this!” Of course you wouldn’t. But that’s what exactly what we’re doing when we try to earn God’s love. Paul loved Jesus, and because of Christ’s sacrifice, and out of appreciate of God’s grace, Paul died to the Law; as should we. God, because of His mercy and great love for us, sent His only begotten Son to pay the sin penalty that we owe. And through Jesus’ work on the Cross, we can be reconciled to God and have eternal life. This is the Good News. This is Grace. This is the Gospel, and there is no other.



Esther

Don’t Give Up {Esther 1:1-4:17}

12:00 AM



We all have times when striving to do the right thing and serving the Lord feels too hard or like a burden. We get caught up in the unfair circumstances life hands us, and wallow in self pity. We wonder where God is and get impatient waiting for answered prayers. Mordecai could have felt this way too. An exiled Jew, he could have grown weary of persecution and of waiting for God to fulfill His promises. But instead he lived a life of faith and obedience. Whatever God asked of him he did. He never gave up and never compromised; even when his life and the life of the Jewish people hung in the balance.

The book of Esther tells us that Mordecai was living in Susa caring for his orphaned cousin Hadassah (Esther). That couldn’t have been an easy thing to do. A single man trying to take care of himself along with raising a young woman. Yet that’s just what he did. He stepped up and embraced his obligations under the Law of God. And he did so fully. Instead of treating her as a burden, we are told Mordecai loved Esther as a daughter and cared for her as he would his very own. No matter what God asks us to do; no matter our circumstances or the inconvenience, we are to do it faithfully and cheerfully with joy in our hearts. The last thing He wants is for us to serve Him begrudgingly or out of a sense of duty. The Bible tells us to do everything “heartily, as to the Lord” (Col. 3:23), and to serve Him “with gladness” (Ps. 100:2).  

After queen Vashti was removed from the throne because of her refusal to come at the king’s command, King Ahasuerus issued a decree that all the young beautiful virgins in the region be brought to him; from which he would choose a new queen. Imagine Mordecai’s distress. He wouldn’t have wanted his dear Esther to be taken to join a gentile King’s harem. What kind of life would that be for a young Jewish girl. Could you imagine having to give up your child to enter into a lifestyle that went against all you believed in? But walking in faith, Mordecai sent her to the palace to be prepared and presented to the king with the advice to use wisdom and not reveal that she was a Jew.  

After Esther was taken Mordecai didn’t give up and go home leaving Esther to her own devices. Instead he continued to do the right thing by loving her as a father and walking, “back and forth in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and how she fared.” (vs. 2:11) Unknown to Mordecai, God was working behind the scenes to deliver His people of Israel. And in verse 2:17 we learn, “The king loved Esther more than all the women and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.”

In yet another example of the character of Mordecai, we learn that sometime later while sitting at the king’s gate, Mordecai learns of a plot against the king which he then shares with queen Esther.  And Esther, “told the king in the name of Mordecai” (Esther 2:22) You’d think that this would earn Mordecai some sort of reward, but instead it was merely recorded in the king’s Book of the Chronicles and soon forgotten. If that had happened to me I might have felt sorry for myself and thought, “See if I ever save the king’s life again!” But not Mordecai. He remained loyal and steadfast. Especially when faced with going against what he knew was right.

Later in the story we learn of a wicked man named Haman who was in the king's service. Haman wanted to be worshiped and demanded that the people bow to him by order of the king. But because of his strong faith, Mordecai wouldn’t compromise against God’s commandment to never bow down in worship to anyone but Him. And so at the risk of losing his life, he refused to get on his knees before the newly elevated Haman. Even when day after day other officials tried to get him to change his mind, Mordecai refused to disobey God. This caused Haman to despise Mordecai, who not being content with only killing Mordecai, “sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.” (v. 3:6) But as we’ll see later, God had other plans. And we know that nothing can stop the plans of God. 

Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of a man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” When we fear the Lord we have no need to fear anything this world can throw at us. We too can stand in the face of opposition, remembering that the most brilliant diamonds are created under the greatest of pressure. So be like Mordecai. Never give up. Be the diamond that God created you to be; strong, uncompromising in faith, and shining brightly for the world to see. 

bear with one another

"It Was Worth It All!" {Galatians 6}

12:00 AM


As we move along through Paul’s letters to the churches we’ll begin to see a pattern in many of them where Paul decides to conclude with a list of commands. In the Book of Galatians, he closes by giving a series of proverbs, sort of speak, for he wants his readers to be guided by the Spirit and not a list of laws, so he gives them principles that will require a bit of thought;

“Brothers, if a man is caught out in some moral slip-up, you whose lives are dominated by the Spirit must correct such a man with the spirit of gentleness, and, as you do it, you must think about yourselves, in case you too should be tempted. Carry one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For, if anyone thinks of himself as important while he is of no importance, he is deceiving himself with the fancies of his mind. Let every man test his own work, and then any ground of boasting that he has will be in regard to himself and not in comparison with others. For each man must carry his own pack.” Gal 6:1-5

Paul clearly knew the troubles that arise in any Christian society and that the best of Christians can “slip up”. The word Paul uses is, paraptoma which doesn’t mean a deliberate sin; but a slip that might come on a slippery surface and not a premeditated decision to sin.  

So let’s take a look at all that’s expected of us concerning our brothers and sisters in Christ:
  1. We “must correct such a man with the spirit of gentleness” not lording over them or looking down upon them, but understanding the same could happen to any of us and we all need others to come alongside us at times.
  2. Only, we must be careful that we don’t slip also, for there is always a chance of us slipping as well. (v.1)
  3. We need to help in carry each others burdens which will lighten their load and help them to keep going! BUT, hold on, what did Paul mean by, “ and so fulfil the law of Christ.”?
The Bible never specifically defines "the law of Christ". However, most Bible teachers believe “the law of Christ” is what Christ stated in the greatest commandments in Mark 12:28–31, “‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’”
The law of Christ then, is to love God with all of our being and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Paul is saying that by carrying one another’s burdens we will be fulfilling “the law of Christ!”. That sure places a weight of importance on bearing with one another and their burdens, doesn’t it?
4.) We need to be sober in how we think of ourselves and realize we are no better than anyone else and just as capable of “slipping” at any given time.
5.) We should put our works to the test to see if they measure up to all God has called us to do. Only, let us measure ourselves and our work up to Christ, and not against another believer’s, for in doing so, we won’t run the risk of either becoming prideful, or envious of others.

I especially love what Paul added in verses 6-10,
“He who is being instructed in the word must share in all good things with him who is giving instruction. Don't deceive yourselves; no one can make a fool of God; whatever a man sows this he will also reap. He who sows to his own lower nature will from that nature reap a blighted harvest. He who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap life eternal. Don't get tired of doing the fine thing, for, when the proper time comes, we will reap so long as we don't relax our efforts. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are members of the household of the faith.” -Gal 6:6-10

Paul, probably better than anyone, knew sometimes those on the front lines grow weary. He knew that the enemy is far more concerned with those on the front lines of the faith and will be constantly attempting to take them down, for they pose the greatest threat to his work, so Paul offers some encouragement to the weary worker;

  1. He encourages all of us who have received instruction to share all good things. Now, this verse was clearly referring to payments of some kind, but I’ve always taken it to mean verbal encouragement as well. Sharing how God used what they taught you, to help you impact others, is always encouraging to teachers and leaders alike.
  2. Paul also encourages all of us to remember we will reap what we sow. The Lord will see to it that our efforts will never be in vain and also includes a warning as well in that a self-centered life produces only material things that will eventually waste away.

At one time, as young Christian and a stay-at-home mom, I failed to place much value on the work I was doing everyday. Let’s face it, you clean the house only to clean it again the next day and the next… make a bed only to make it again the next and so on. Life as a stay-at-home mom can become pretty mundane, but there are those days when things happened that made it all seem worth it all. It’s the same with working in the ministry or with anything we do. There will always be days which cause us to wonder why we’re bothering to do what we do and other days where we wouldn’t trade what we’re doing for the world!

Sometimes the rewards don’t come often enough and it’s in those moments that I like to think that all my efforts are being deposited into a “heavenly saving account” that will pay great dividends sometime in the future! 

Now that my children are grown and have families of their own, I’ve reaped some of those early deposits and I can attest to the fact that God is faithful! There will come a day for all of us when we will say, “It was worth it all!” I promise!


Freedom

Freedom and Liberty {Galatians 5}

12:30 AM

by Lisa Thayer

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  v. 1

Can you get past this verse?  I have read it over and over.  What more do you need to hear? 

Here in the West, freedom is the highest virtue and it is sought after by anyone who considers themselves oppressed.  Our freedom in Christ does not give us a license to do whatever we want however.  Romans 6 tells us that no one is free.  We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness.  Those who are slaves to sin cannot free themselves from it, but once we are freed from the penalty and power of sin through the cross, we become a different kind of slave, and in that slavery we find complete peace and true freedom.

Image result for galatians 5:6



Jesus said in Luke 7:47, “Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown.  But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Overflowing love is the natural response to forgiveness and the appropriate result of faith.  But only those who realize the depths of their sin can appreciate the complete forgiveness that God offers them.  Why would anyone return to the bondage of the law?  Well, we are rebellious.  We refuse to obey God and cling to our old selves.  We hold on to the sins that once bound us to Satan.  Because our new nature still lives in the old fleshly nature, we are still drawn to sin.  It may be harsh when Paul swears at the people preaching circumcision, but sometimes we have to take a stand for the truth.  Jesus told us in John 15:18-19 that the world may hate you for faithfully proclaiming the message – in spite of the obstacles others may put in our way.

Paul reminds us in verses 13-14 that we are called to be free!  By serving one another, humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command.  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  When we lose our motivation to love, we become critical of others.  We stop looking for the good in them and only see their faults.  And soon, we lose our unity. 

We all have evil desires.  I know I’d rather not have them, but I can’t ignore them.  In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit, we have to deal with these destructive desires.  We must crucify them.  Some of these desires are obvious sins such as sexual immorality and witchcraft.  But they also include less obvious sins such as selfish ambition, hatred and jealousy.  Those of us who refuse to deal with such sins, reveal we have not received the gift of the Spirit that leads to a transformed life.

Do you desire to have the qualities listed in verses 22-23?  If you do, then you know the Holy Spirit is leading you.  Being led by the Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and His promptings.  The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ.  They are the by-products of Christ’s control.  We cannot obtain them by trying to get them without His help. 

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 God is interested in every part of our lives, not just the spiritual part.  As we live by the Holy Spirit’s power, we need to submit every aspect of our lives to God – emotional, physical, social, intellectual and vocational.  Paul says that because we are saved, we should live like it!  The Holy Spirit is the source of your new life, so keep in step with his leading.  Don’t let anything or anyone else determine your values and standards in any area of your life.  I heard it described like the two rails on railroad track.  The train cannot move properly unless both rails are in use.  You are on one side and the Holy Spirit is on the other moving your life forward.  And when you are concentrating on keeping your train on both tracks, you won’t need the approval of others.  We are heirs to the King of Kings and we have the Holy Spirit as the loving guarantee of God’s approval.  Seek to please God and the approval of others won’t seem so important.

Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit.  Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires. 



Galatians

The Gift of Adoption {Galatians 4}

12:00 AM


The Gift of Adoption {Galatians 4}

By Lisa Moore

In the previous chapter Paul explains that as believers we are all one in Christ and heirs to God's promises. In this chapter Paul expands on what it means to be an heir, and the liberty we as believers have in Jesus.

He begins by saying, "Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father." (vs. 1-2) In ancient Roman times, there was no specific age when a son became a man and was entitled to the legal rights as an heir. Usually it was the father who decided when the son was ready. Until then, even though he was destined to inherit everything, the son didn't have the freedom or even the authority of a high ranking slave. Paul says that we too were like children under control of the "elements of the world", meaning bound by the Law. We were waiting for God's perfect timing to set us free.

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law" (v. 4) Throughout their many trials and tribulations, Israel prayed and pleaded with God to send the promised Messiah. But God waited until the time was right for the world to receive His Son.This time came after Rome had conquered much of the known world creating extensive "highways" which connected the nations. This allowed travel by both land and sea permitting early Christians to spread the Gospel far and wide. Also "Alexander the Great", a Greek ruler, spread the Greek culture throughout the lands creating a common language.This meant missionaries were able to communicate the message of the Gospel to many different groups of people. And so determining the ripeness of the season, God sent Jesus, "So that He might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." (v. 5) 


Jesus came to be our perfect substitute. He came to take our place; paying our sin debt allowing us to be redeemed to the Father. Because of His sacrifice, we are not only forgiven of our sins, freed from the burden of the Law, we are also adopted as sons and daughters into God's heavenly family forever. Imagine that! Such indescribable grace and mercy. For as John says in 1 John 3:1, "See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we would be called children of God.." No longer called slaves, but rather "heirs through God".

But it gets even better. In one of my favorite verses Paul says, "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying 'Abba! Father!" (v. 6) Abba is an Aramaic term which closely translated means Daddy. God wants to be our Abba. He wants a close personal relationship with us, so He sends His Spirit to indwell us. "God sends His Spirit to show us what it means to be His children, to bless us with His great love, to reveal His purpose for creating us, and to empower us for all the great plans He has for our lives" (Dr. Charles Stanley) 

What a privilege to be able to call God our Abba! To be able to cry out to Him in our times of need. To have an eternal and secure relationship with Him. As sinners, on our own we can never be worthy of being in His family.  But because of the work of Christ, not only does God accept us, He calls us His own. Our adoption is the act of God's pure goodness and grace of His will to the praise of His glory. And I gift I am forever thankful for.

Doing well

Doing Good

12:00 AM


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today we are memorizing one verse for the book of Galatians…
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (6.9)
Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good…(Amplified version)

The “doing good” that Paul is talking about is “doing” the fruit of the spirit which he speaks about earlier in Galatians… 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (v5:22,23)

We are not to grow weary being “patient and kind and good and faithful and gentle and (showing) self-control. Don’t grow weary of manifesting your peace and joy in all kinds of acts of love to your neighbors and associates and family.” (Piper)

If we do not spend our time living as Christ did, living in His Spirit, keeping our eyes on Him, then the flesh will take over…
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Gal. 6:8)
And we all need to be reminded at times why it matters that we not give up, why it matters that we keep on keeping on…
~Because of God’s love
~Because of Christ’s sacrifice
~Because of our commitment to the Lord
~Because of heaven and hell
~Because we may take others with us through our testimony
~Because of the love we share with other Christians
~Because of our fellowship with God

It matters very much, in every way, what we do, how we live our lives.  We must always keep our eyes on Him and eternity, pressing forward in serving God every day, with every step, until we are with Him.
Have a blessed and precious day everyone!