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–a pastor, a Bible study leader–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 Thursday, 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 Monday–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 Monday) 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 relationship with God 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 Wednesday, 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 Tuesday 

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ  (Galatians 6:2).

Interesting how Paul says this right after talking about confronting a brother in sin.  Whaddaya think?  Connected, maybe?

Nah…

Yeah… 

Remember that person in sin, the one you’re trying to rescue? 

They’re trapped. 

They’re struggling under a burden of doubt, of fear, of ignorance, of mistrust–you name it. You can’t just ride in like Sir Knight, slay the sin dragon, and ride off to the next adventure.  You need to follow through. 

You need to stay.  

If God has called you to intervene, he has called you to do some heavy lifting.

Somehow–through prayer, through encouragement, through accountability, through instruction in the Word–you need to shoulder some of that load and help carry it to the foot of the Cross. The warrior must beat his sword into a plow and spend a little time working the soil. 

It isn’t easy–which is why we don’t dive heedlessly into another person’s life.

But it is necessary.

Hey, if we were meant to do this alone, our hands wouldn’t fit together so well.

Happy Monday, Beloved. 

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.  But watch yourself, or you may also be tempted  (Galatians 6:1).

“Oh, but I could never get caught up in that.”

Yes, you could.

“No, really, I’d never–”

Yeah, well, you might.

“Trust me, there’s no way I would ever–”

Way.  Big, fat, hairy way.

There’s plenty of analogies, Beloved.

Playing with fire

Walking too close to the edge 

Eating one more cookie

The point is, sin is seductive.  That’s its nature.  If you hang out with sinners in order to identify with them and reach them, you’re putting yourself in a dangerous place.  

“Yeah, but Jesus did it!”

Yes, and he is Jesus.  

Look, Paul doesn’t say not to go; he says to watch yourself.  Be aware of your danger, and take precautions.  A fireman willingly runs into a flaming building, but he carries oxygen so that he doesn’t have to breathe the smoke.  

We are called to His work, so do what you gotta do, but do what you gotta do so you can do what you gotta do.

Got it?

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:26).

It’s not about you.

Seriously

It’s not even about me, although I might need to double-check Scripture on that.

It’s about the One who, oh I don’t know, created everything with a word and orchestrates all of history to sing his praise and glorify his name.

Beloved, how much of our conflict with others stems from our own ego?

Too much

Eyes on the prize today, Beloved.

And off of the mirror

Happy Thursday

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit  (Galatians 5:25).

Have you ever seen a little kids’ dance performance?

Because I have.

Lots of motion and kicks and spins and vague arm gestures and all at different times.  It’s cute, but painful to watch.

So painful

How about we not do that?

Or maybe you’ve seen the video of the marching band in which 99 kids execute a sharp turn left, and one poor trombonist chugs to the right.

How about we not do that?

Or the Blue Angels performance where…oh, wait…the Blue Angels are pretty much always perfect.  A million miles an hour, ¾ of an inch from wingtip to wingtip, near-perfect symmetry.

How about we do that?

We have a choreographer, Beloved.  Let’s follow the steps.

Happy Wednesday.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24).

Crucifixion, as you probably know, is a painful process.

It’s supposed to be.

Crucifixion was not designed to be a quick, merciful death, but to utterly destroy the one being punished.  And it worked beautifully, in all known cases.

You know…except one.

But the offenders did not die immediately.  They lingered for hours, even days, before succumbing to the inevitable.  Death was a given, but still they fought, thrashed, cried out.

So don’t be surprised if your sinful nature still raises its head and calls out to you.  Don’t be surprised if it fights and clings to life.  That’s to be expected.  Just remember–it has been crucified.  Its death is inevitable, no matter how much noise it makes.  And you aren’t required to stand and stare at it in fascination.  You don’t need to answer its piteous cries for help.  You may turn and walk away.

So turn around, Beloved.  Start walking.

Happy Tuesday.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus…  (Galatians 5:24)

Stop right there.

Let’s begin the week with a quick heart check.  As you read the above words, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus,”what was your gut reaction?

A.  Did you just blow right past it, doing the obligatory read so you can get on with your day?

B.  Did you rebel just a bit–or just a lot–thinking about how you’re your own person and you don’t belong to anyone, while images of slavery and oppression ran through your head?

C.  Did you feel guilt, knowing that you just don’t measure up to what a Christ-follower ought to be?

D.  Did you smile, feeling peace and joy and contentment run through you at the thought that he loves you, that the Creator of the Universe has called you to be his own, that you are completely, irrevocably, thoroughly his?

I know what the answer is supposed to be, but that’s not what I asked, now is it?  

May I suggest that you make time this morning to go before the Throne of Grace and let your Lord refresh, renew, restore that heart before you take it out into the world?

I’ll be doing the same.

Happy Monday, Beloved.