Category: Galatians

Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh  (Galatians 6:13).

It’s called hypocrisy…and it’s annoying.

Those people I talked about yesterday–the ones who want you to look a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain way in order to validate their picture of what a Christian should be?  

Yeah, well, they’re probably not even walking the walk themselves.

Frankly, the fact that they are paying so much attention to you is a pretty good indicator of the state of their relationship with God.

I mean…not that you’re not worth paying attention to.

Walk your walk. Beloved.  Ignore the poser people.

Happy Thursday

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised.  The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ (Galatians 6:12).

They were called Judaizers.  These were Christians who feared the Jewish population, and tried to fly under the radar by following the outward signs of Judaism–like circumcision–while still proclaiming Christ.

Really hard to pull that off.

The worst of it was, they pushed new, immature, Gentile believers into following these same rules.  According to Paul, this was done not to help the new believers, but to protect the Judaizers.  And it was costly–if these baby Christians got caught up in following rules and regulations and outward signs, it was easy to forget that Jesus came to free them from following rules and regulations and outward signs.

Faith could get swallowed up by religion…again.

Beloved, the chances are slim that you will be asked to get circumcised today.  In fact, you can probably relax regarding the whole Jewish sacrificial system.  But there are still those who will expect you to look a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain way that does not come from a biblical understanding of Christ.

Run from them.

Your relationship with Jesus is just that–your relationship with Jesus.  Don’t let anyone but the Holy Spirit speaking through Scripture tell you what that has to look like.  

Don’t be conformed, but transformed.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10).

I have a challenge for you…

You’re still reading?  Great.

Take a few moments, before you head out on your Tuesday adventure, and ask God to show you opportunities to do good today.  Ask that he open your eyes to the people around you who need the kind of help that you can provide.

Then, you know…provide it.

Beloved, how great would it be if you–if I–if we–had the reputation of being kind and loving and always there for each other and willing to help everyone even those we disagree with and generally loving every day and all the time.

So let’s build it.  Starting today.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).

It is so easy to look the other way.

You will encounter multiple opportunities to do good today.

Most of them will come up at inconvenient times, or in uncomfortable ways. 

Take the opportunities.

Do the good.

Remember, Beloved, that we are in the rescue business.  Your unselfish deed, that moment when you let yourself be uncomfortable in order to make someone else feel better,  may be the moment that opens a heart to hear God’s love.  

Imagine standing in glory some fine day when a person walks up to you.  They say, “You don’t know me, but once upon a time you did ____________ for me.  I know it was a little thing, but it got me thinking about how there is still good in the world, and that got me thinking about God, and, well, here I am!”

It could happen.

No, you can’t help everyone.  

But…

Happy Friday, Beloved

The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life   (Galatians 6:8).

Sixty seconds

times sixty minutes

times twenty-four hours

equals

eighty-six thousand, four hundred

seeds

today. 

What will you plant?

Sow well, Beloved of Christ.

Happy Thursday

A man reaps what he sows  (Galatians 6:7).

Hey, I’m no farmer, but I’ve planted a seed or two in my time. 

Usually they die, but that’s not the point.

The point is, even someone of my limited gardening skills and decidedly gray thumbs knows that the picture on the seed package is there to tell you what’s inside.  Rarely does one find a package labeled, “Random Mystery Seeds.”  You know what you’re planting, long before it begins to grow. The wise gardener is very careful about what seeds he plants.

‘Course, we’re not really talking about gardens here, are we?

You’re so quick, Beloved–that’s what I like about you.

Happy Wednesday

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked (Galatians 6:7).

I would never mock God.

Openly

But how often do I act as though God did not really exist?  How often do I read his words and then go off and do my own thing, completely forgetting what I just read? How often do I face the world in my pathetic strength, ignoring his voice telling me to trust Him?

Too often

Tell me I’m not alone here.

Beloved, when we do these things, we treat the Lord of the Universe as if he were ours to command, ignore, or cast aside at our discretion. 

Not a good idea

He loves you, but he won’t allow that.  

So, take a moment or two or twelve this morning to remind yourself of just exactly who you are, and whose you are.  Then go live like it.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor  (Galatians 6:6).

So I’m linking my Venmo and Zelle information for any donations you may want to… 

Yeah…no.

FYI, I don’t consider this blog “Instruction in the word.”  This is more like a kid wandering through the woods, pointing at all the beautiful stuff but not really knowing what any of it is or how any of it works, and occasionally getting covered in poison ivy. I’m glad you’re along for the walk, but you gotta realize that I’m not a certified guide.  I don’t always know what I’m talking about.

Hopefully you have someone in your life who really understands the scriptures and helps you understand them as well.

That’s the person Paul is talking about here.

Paul points out in more than one of his letters that those who teach the Word have a heavy responsibility before God. If they lead His children away from truth, either for their own gain or because of their own sin, it will seriously stink to be them. Teachers of the word are held to a high standard, as they should be.

They are also worthy of honor. They are the ones who can help us to see God more closely, who can make the Word more accessible by showing us how it connects and applies to life.  These are the people who show us God’s love on every page of the Bible.

Take a few moments this morning to pray for your pastor, your teacher, your spiritual leader. Ask God how you can honor and support them–spiritually, emotionally, and materially.  They deserve it.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Each one should test his own actions.  Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load (Galatians 6:4-5).

Wait a minute.

Didn’t Paul just say–like Wednesday–that we are to carry each other’s burdens?

Then why is he now saying that, “Each one should carry his own load?”

This kind of stuff drives me bonky.

It seems to me, if I may be so bold, that the context of verse 2 (from Wednesday) is accountability and teamwork and helping each other through the spiritual rough patches.  Today’s verses are dealing with our ultimate responsibility before God.  

Look, fellowship is important.  Teamwork is important.  Being there for each other–important.

But

Ultimately, your walk with God is your walk.  No one can do it for you.  No one can make the choices or pray the prayers or read the scriptures or spend the time.  It’s yours, Beloved.

Comparing your relationship with God to someone else’s is pointless, for two big reasons:

a) You don’t really know what’s going on in their head.  People like to put the best face on things.  We sometimes call that “lying.”  Seriously, do you think all those Facebook smiles are real? When you compare yourself to someone else, what you’re really doing is comparing your real, flawed, honest down-in-the-depths-of-my-soul self to their social-media-plastic-smile-head-tilted-here’s-what-I’m-gonna-show-you-cause-there’s-no-way-on-Earth-I’ll-dare-let-you-think-I’m-not-as-cool-as-you-are surface self. You can’t compete with that…nor should you want to.

b) God has called you to your path, not theirs. And that is a glorious thing. It means that the Lord of the Universe has spent energy designing a life for you.

Yeah, you 

So live that life.

Walk that walk.

Be that…being.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself  (Galatians 6:3).

Sometimes Paul’s teaching is really obscure, and it takes a lot of study and effort to glean his message.

This is not one of those times.

Let the sting ring, Beloved.

Happy Thursday