Category: Galatians

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ… (Galatians 1:3)

Without grace, there is no peace.

Seriously…why would there be?

Without grace you are dead in the water…and dead in your sins.

Without grace, you get what you deserve:

pain

emptiness 

darkness 

loneliness

eternity apart from love. 

But…

you are not without grace, are you?

It flows over you, in you, through you.

You don’t deserve it, but that’s kinda the point, is it not?

You have been granted favor with God.

You are healed

and filled

and whole.

So…walk in grace today, Beloved.

Know his peace.

Happy Wednesday.

Paul, an apostle–sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead–and all the brothers with me, to the churches in Galatia (Galatians 1:1-2).

So, Paul was an apostle

and you’re not.

I get that.

Still, Paul was sent by God to do the work God had set out for him to do.  Knowing he was on a mission for Christ gave Paul the strength and confidence to face the darkness and difficulty that came against him,

of  which there was much.

You, Beloved, have also been sent by God to do a job.  You have a mission.  You move into this day with the authority and the power to accomplish the task he has given you.

Excuse me?  You don’t know what he wants of you today?  Sure you do.
Do justice in an unjust world.

Love mercy in a pitiless world.

Walk humbly through a prideful world.

Start with those basics, and details will be made plain to you as the day develops.

Now, go make your Father proud.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers.  Amen (Galatians 6:17-18).

Have you ever thought about the number of scars Paul must have had?

He’d been beaten and stoned and shipwrecked and lashed.

Those things leave marks–inside and out.

Paul claims those marks as badges of honor.  

Not to get all Greeky on you, but that word “marks” was the same word used for the brand that would be put on slaves to identify them as their owner’s property.

Paul is basically saying, “You see this scar?  This burn?  This dent? They tell you that I belong to Jesus.  So back off, Boyo.”

Or, you know, something like that.

I know Paul was not reputed to be all that impressive in person, but I gotta tell you, right here he sounds like a leather-clad, Harley-riding biker.

Beloved, my body doesn’t bear the marks that Paul’s did.  I haven’t been called to that level of sacrifice.  

Perhaps someday.

But my spirit bears his mark, his brand, his seal.

I’m guessing yours does, too.

You are his Beloved.

You are his, Beloved.

Happy Tuesday

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently  (Galatians 6:1).

You know how when a person has a dislocated shoulder on TV someone grabs their arm and practically rips it out of the socket to reset the joint?

It’s not like that.

Nor is it like old-school CPR, where you beat the snot out of the person’s chest to get their heart beating.  It’s not even like ripping the bandage off and taking half their arm hair with it.

No, it’s more like when the Lord appeared to Elijah–not in the tempest, not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but in the gentle whisper.

You don’t have to scream to be heard.  You don’t have to beat them over the head with their sin to show them they’ve fallen.  You don’t have to chest-punch them to touch their heart.  The Holy Spirit can do just fine without your theatrics and need for vindication.

Remember, you’re on the rescue squad, not the demolitions squad.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently  (Galatians 6:1).

In this world we gain power by making others feel weak.

In this world we stand tall by knocking others down.

In this world we are counted wise when we make others look foolish.

Remember, Beloved: we are in this world

but not of it.

Such power you have.

You have the power to restore.

Use it.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently  (Galatians 6:1).

Why are you thinking about defusing that behavior bomb you see?

Is it because it really annoys you?

Don’t do it.

Is it because you feel righteous indignation over that person’s wanton immorality?

Don’t do it.

Is it because it’s your solemn duty as Captain Theology to confront heresy in all its forms?

Oh, please, no.

Beloved, before you go diving into another person’s life, you need to do a heart check.  Are you praying for this person?  Have you asked God to help you see them through His eyes?  Have you asked Him to show you the pain, the fear, the loss that might have led this soul to the place they are in?  Have you asked God if you are the right person, in the right place, at the right time, to speak?  Is your desire to snip the wire borne out of an aching need to see them whole?  Is confronting this person the last thing you want to do, but the one thing that they desperately need?

Well, then.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently  (Galatians 6:1).

Sin.

Not a doctrinal difference, or a lifestyle choice, or anything that makes you think, “Hmm…well that just seems wrong.”

Is it a clear violation of Scripture?

No?

Then zip it, Beloved.  Because you can’t unsnip the wire.

Happy Wednesday.

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.  Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God (Galatians 6:15-16).

Doctrine is important.

There is truth and there is falsehood.

Truth good.

Falsehood bad.

I don’t think Paul is advocating a, “Hey, it’s all good.  Don’t worry about the details. Just love Jesus and you’ll be fine” philosophy.

But 

It is possible to miss the forest because you’re too busy examining the pine needles.

It is possible to analyze the colors so intently that you miss the glory of the sunset.

Beloved, don’t focus so closely on Christianity that you miss Christ.

Just sayin’.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world   (Galatians 6:14).

The world has been crucified to me.

It no longer has power over me, no longer owns me

no longer is me.

The world is dead to me.

So why does it still call with such a loud voice?

I have been crucified to the world.

I no longer belong here, no longer invest here

I am in it, but not of it.

I am dead to the world.

So why do I still live like it matters so much?

Happy Friday, Beloved.