Life's Journey

Today is our final day in Galatians – thank you to everyone for those who has faithfully followed along and shared here or on my blog! Here is our final wrap-up post and reading for the day!

“11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! 12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule to the Israel of God. 17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers, and sisters. Amen.” Galatians 6:11-18

“Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 6:14

As Paul closes the book of Galatians, he writes one final plea for them to not return to the law. He reminded them that those who force circumcision had wrong motives. They were avoiding persecution and boasting in their flesh. Paul had suffered for Christ. He had been beaten, whipped, and stoned. His body bore the marks of Jesus. And so, this is his final argument. Rules, religion, and traditions would not save them. Only the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ would save them and that was Paul’s only boast. The Lord says in Jeremiah 9:23 & 24: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”Absolutely nothing we do can bring us into a right relationship with God. Our works cannot save us. We are saved by faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone. Jesus deserves all the glory for laying his life down for our sins. God, we give all the glory right now, and may “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.” Galatians 6:18.

My daily reflections: I was sharing with my husband last night how sorry I felt for Paul while doing this study, talk about being frustrated with people that you are dealing with. But I was reminded that his motivation was the love of God for people that he had, and he never gave up on them, even with the disciples and those he raised in the faith. Paul just wanted the believers to walk in freedom with the Spirit of God, to keep the law out of their lives, and to know God in a intermit way. I love living in the freedom, liberty, and grace of God that has been provided for you and me.

Today we are reading Galatians 6:6-10. I have posted it below. If you have a few extra minutes please share your insights, applications, or thoughts.

“6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 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. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:6-10

Paul reminds them to not be deceived or fooled into thinking that they can feed the flesh and reap the fruit of the Spirit. God sees and will not be mocked in that way. God’s grace is not a license to sin, so if they choose to sin, they would reap corruption. But for those sowing to the Spirit, he encouraged them to not grow weary in doing good. The principle of sowing and reaping requires patience. An oak tree does not appear in a single day. So, Paul encouraged them to not give up. Our thoughts, actions, words, hobbies, and habits are all seeds. If we plant pumpkin seeds, we get pumpkins. We cannot get a tomato from pumpkin seed and in the same way, we cannot reap God’s blessings when we are planting sinful habits. Divine discipline follows the law of sowing and reaping. If we sow bad decisions in our lives, we will suffer. Sometimes we might be tempted to think that we can get away with doing wrong, but God always sees and knows. Eventually, it does catch up with us.

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

My daily reflections: Reaping and sowing is just a fact and the scriptures explain it so well. My thought is how we sometimes are surprised when something springs up that we planted. I love it when God reminds me that the blessing in hand is from the seed that was sown days, years, or months ago. There is always a consequence from sowing seed, once again, a choice we make, whether good or bad seed. Be reminded that words are very important that are spoken, they are seeds that we sow, good or bad. I am just thankful that the Word of the Lord, His seed, never returns void and it is good.

Reflection Questions: Pause and consider – What are you sowing right now? And what are you reaping right now? What changes need to be made to sow more to the Spirit and less to the flesh? Stay strong, be patient, and keep sowing to the Spirit. Do not give up!

Galatians ~ Week 4 ~Day 3

Good Day!!! Today we are reading Galatians 6:1-5. I have posted it below. Please feel free to share your insights, applications, or comments. Here are today’s verses for you to read.

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.” Galatians 6:1-5

Paul knows that some believers will fall into sin and they will need help getting out. Those who are more spiritual are responsible to help restore them in gentleness. He does not want them to be harsh or prideful but rather humble, recognizing that they too may fall into sin and need help being restored. Some believers are carrying a very heavy load right now. Paul gives us a simple command – help them. When we help others with their burdens, we are fulfilling the law of Christ to love one another. So, essentially Paul is saying – if you want to follow the law so badly, follow the law of Christ to love one another.

“2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

My daily reflections: This is one area that I really love seeing the body of Christ walk out as we rally around those who are burdened and in need. God uses every persons gifting to reach out to others, we all have different strengths and abilities, During this unprecedented time, there are many in need. Jesus did not only help the saved but also the unsaved. What a testimony we could be for unbelievers simply by offering help. Being there and available for those who have also fallen, we need to help heal and restore our wounded.

Reflection Questions: When you think of someone who has fallen into sin or who is heavily burdened – who comes to mind? What are some ways you can come alongside and love and help this person?

Today we are reading Galatians 5:22-26. I have posted it below. If you have a few extra minutes please share your insights. Here are today’s verses for you to read.

“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26

It’s interesting to note that right after Paul says to walk in the Spirit, he has to remind them to not get conceited! As soon as we are overcoming the flesh and living in the power of the Holy Spirit, the enemy will come in and tempt us with pride. It’s easy to think we are right and everyone else is wrong. As a result, we provoke other believers or become envious of other believers who are more spiritual.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23

Paul uses the picture of fruit to describe the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. The fruit of the Spirit is in direct contrast to the fruit of the flesh, in the previous list. Isn’t the fruit of the spirit beautiful? The more we walk in the Spirit, the more we will not gratify our flesh and the more we will display the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

My daily reflections: I am always reminded how we have the choice to walk in the Spirit or react in the flesh. There are times when I just want to throw my fruit at someone but it never does me any good 🙂 I love where it says to keep in step with the Spirit, and I don’t know about you but I need to be reminded of this list regularly and strive to exhibit these characteristics. I am so grateful that we are free to cultivate the fruit, grow in Christ and grow our fruit.

Reflection Questions: Which fruit of the Spirit is your strength? Which fruit of the Spirit is your weakness?

Today we are reading Galatians 5:19-21. I have posted it below. If you have a few extra minutes please share your insights. Here are today’s verses for you to read.

“19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ” Galatians 5:19-21

Paul said that the works of the flesh are evident, yet he still felt compelled to list them and be specific for clarity’s sake.  All of the sins on the list fall into one of four categories: sexual sins, religious sins, relational sins, and social sins.  Those who habitually practice these sins are clearly not walking by the Spirit and are living in rebellion against God.  They will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

The list that Paul gives is not meant to be turned into the law. The word “practice” is used in the present tense and it means a continual lifestyle of doing these things. The fact that someone can continually sin over and over is evidence that the Holy Spirit is not inside of them.  But let’s face it, we all have committed some of the sins on this list.  That does not mean we are in danger of losing the kingdom of heaven.  We may commit some of these sins in our weakness, but we do not stay in them. 

My daily reflections: There is nothing worse than to continue in sin. If we do not repent, but obstinately continue to fulfill the desires of the flesh, it is a sure sign that we are not sincere. ‘Paul knew that we are saved by God’s grace and Jesus’ work alone, not by what we have done, are doing, or promise to do. But he also knew that those who are saved by God’s grace have a high moral obligation to fulfill – not to earn salvation, but in gratitude for salvation, and in simple consistency with who we are in Jesus.’ (Guzik) It is all about your love for Jesus, having a daily relationship with Him, it helps us not to want to sin. Read and study the Word of God so that you can refresh and renew your mind. Set some boundaries in your life so that it helps you keep within your ‘rules’ for life, set on the values of the bible. Fences, boundaries, are good in our lives, they keep out the bad and keep in the good. Be accountable to others and people around you, hold each other accountable. Do whatever it takes to be pure and to walk godly. Do whatever it takes to walk in victory in Christ and not as a victim.

We are completing week three today and I have thoroughly enjoyed this time studying and fellowshipping together. Thank you for joining me along this journey.

Today we are reading Galatians 5:16-18. I have posted it below. If you have a few extra minutes please share your insights or thoughts. Here are today’s verses for you to read.

“6 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18

“16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

Paul did not want them to rely on the law to keep them from sinning but rather to walk by the Spirit. But he knew there would be a battle between the flesh and the Spirit because the two are opposed to each other. He told them that the only way to not gratify the desires of the flesh was to be led by the Holy Spirit. In doing this, they would be free from the law and would be pleasing God. The Galatians may have felt there were only two choices, follow the law or sin. But we have a third choice and that is to walk by the Spirit. Paul says when we walk by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. He does not say you will not have the desires. He only says you will not gratify them. The Holy Spirit is inside of you and he wants to free you, but you must be led by the Holy Spirit rather than the flesh to overcome fleshly desires.

My reflection for the day: So for me, walking in the Spirit is not always a conviction of sin, but also a prompting of the Holy Spirit to do or not do something regarding direction, decisions, and so on. I guess that is walking according to the Spirit and not the flesh. I believe being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and hearing His voice is so important in our lives, tuning into the realm of his prompting and voice. I found that in my life, God started with gentle promptings, and then it grew as I learned to recognize between what was His voice and the flesh. I still at times miss or ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit and always wish that I hadn’t. There is spiritual warfare going on in our lives and learning to walk in the Spirit can surely make things more victorious when we follow his ways.

Reflection Question: Isn’t it such a blessing to have Holy Spirit in our lives to prompt, convict, and just fellowship with us?

Good day! Today we are reading Galatians 5:7-15. I have posted it below. If you have a few extra minutes please share your insights or thoughts. Here are today’s verses for you to read.

“7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. 11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! 12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 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. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.” Gal.5:7-15

Paul reminded believers that they had been set free, but they needed to be careful not to use their freedom to serve their flesh. Their freedom was not freedom to sin – but rather freedom from sin. The grace of God was meant to lead them to serve one another in love. One of the greatest fears of a legalist is that if they give people freedom, they will take advantage of it and sin. So, rules are made – that aren’t in the Bible – to keep people in check. While this is a danger to the freedom Christ has given us – there is also a danger, when we feed the flesh what it selfishly wants, without loving others.

My Reflection for the day: I often say, “Don’t let your freedom become your bondage.” Freedom is a wonderful gift but easily abused. Never abuse the freedom that we have along with the grace of God in our lives. Even walking with God, no matter what you sow, good or bad, you will still reap. There is always a consequence to choice. Freedom carries a huge responsibility. Loving others rightly not only fulfill Jesus’s command but brings us benefit as well. Sometimes with our good seed sowing, we are impatient in waiting to see the fruit or growth but be encouraged that God is the one who brings about the results in His timing. “And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith!“

Reflection Questions: Which do you struggle with more – being too legalistic or being so free you fall into sin? How does remembering to love and serve others bring balance to your freedom?”

Hello to you all. Good Morning! Today we are reading Galatians 5:1-6. I have posted it below. If you have a few extra minutes please share your insights or thoughts. Here are today’s verses for you to read.

“5 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. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:1-6

“It is for freedom Christ has set us free.” Galations 5:1

Christ had set them free from the law, the power of sin, and the power of death, and yet the Galatians were wanting to return to the yoke of slavery. They were relying on their circumcision to earn favor with God but it truly counted for nothing with God. God was only looking for their faith. A free person should not want to return to slavery, yet we see some people reject the grace of Christ and try to earn favor with God either through their good works or through following legalistic man-made rules. Friends, if you are in the habit of adding too many rules to your life, you will grow weary in your walk with the Lord. A good work becomes a sin if it is for the purpose of earning favor with God. Instead, we should do good out of a heart of faith and love.

My reflection for the day: Paul emphasizes that grace, faith, and love are to be our lifestyle; we must not submit ourselves to religious rules, traditions, that other people have adopted then try and place them on us! At this time during Pauls’s ministry, the people who had found grace were now being pressured to add the Jewish law to their walk with God, like circumcision. Unfortunately, many succumbed to that and Paul is warning them, and us, don’t do it, it will not add anything to your salvation. The Bible says Christ set us free that’s the whole point of our salvation. We need to instead live by the 2 most important commandments that Jesus gave us which are to love the Lord our God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. I wanted to share a teaching from a very good friend of mine, Fiona DesFontein, who really does a good job with teaching on freedom of the law ~ if you have a chance to watch this, let me know what you think. https://youtu.be/TfwmcQmji8k

Reflection Question: In what ways or areas have you fallen away from grace and freedom in your life?

Good day! Today we are reading Galatians 4:21-31. I have posted it below. If you have a few extra minutes and please share your insights.

“21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the freewoman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.” Gal. 4:21-31

Paul shifts his method of explaining to the Galatians that they are not saved by the law, by using the allegory of Hagar and Sarah and their two sons. One was a son of the flesh – born to a slave woman and the other was a son of promise – born to a free woman. They represent two covenants –the old covenant and the new covenant. Under the old covenant, they were slaves to the law and their man-made attempts to earn their salvation. Under the new covenant, they are free. Paul wants them to live free! Sarah and Hagar did not get along and God told Abraham to send Hagar and her son away. Paul says to cast out the slave woman and her son. Law and grace do not get along. We will spend our entire lives trying to earn favor with the Lord if we do not kick legalism out of our lives.

My reflection for the day: The Message: “The son of the slave woman was born by human plotting; the son of the free woman was born by God’s promise.” The two births represent two ways of being in a relationship with God. There are those who relate to God by human plotting, planning, and rules (i.e., slaves). Others (the free) relate to God according to His promises. Every choice has consequences. We have the choice to be free in Christ or to be slaves to our sin. When we choose to be free in Christ we have to put away our sin. You can’t continue to be free in Christ if we are living in the world and behaving as the world does. Yes, we love those in the world because Jesus loves the world but we can’t live like them.

Reflection Questions: In what area do you struggle with legalism or trying to earn favor with the Lord? What do you need to let go of so you can experience the freedom of grace?

 

Here we are, week 3 in Galatians! Here’s this week’s Reading Plan and reading for the day. Today we are reading Galatians 4:8-20. I have posted it below. If you have a few extra minutes and please share your insights.

“8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain. 12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. Galatians 4:8-20

“But now that you have come to know God how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world.” Galatians 4:9

The Galatians were being tempted over and over to abandon their faith-based salvation and instead return to elementary principles of working for their salvation through following the law. They were observing days, months, seasons, and years commanded in the Old Testament but in Christ, they were freed from this legalistic obligation. It was not earning favor with God and greatly upset Paul. He had invested his time teaching them the gospel and they were departing from it and turning his hard work into vanity. Many like to attend church on Christmas and Easter so that they will feel like a good Christian – but God looks at the heart. He wants our heart 365 days a year. All the world religions require good works. That is the weak and worthless principle this world offers to right our wrongs. This is not God’s way. We are not saved by our good works. Paul loved the Galatians so much he did not want to give up on them. Instead, he continued to preach with fervor to correct their errors.

My reflection for the day: These verses really encourage me as I read how Paul never gives up, even when feeling sick, discouraged, or frustrated. I know you and I have never felt this way, right! Paul is challenging us here not to go back and practice old rituals and superstitions because…well, that’s the way we always did it in the past. We are sometimes tempted to go back to our old ways, and sometimes believe the lies of the world even when we know the truth. The Bible says you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Don’t let yourselves be put back into bondage over untruths. Paul says that any basic “thing”- money, relationships, religious practices, must not be worshiped, treated as a god, and become the basis of one’s truth. We must make sure that Jesus is the focus of everything we do. If not, then whatever is, will enslave us! We must be on guard and not allow old ways and false beliefs to speak louder than the truth of God. You can’t mix the new with the old and still remain free because the old will taint and destroy the new. We don’t want to end up in worse bondage than before, and you no longer display the freedom of God’s grace through Christ.

Reflection Questions: Are you ever tempted to trust in your good works, or turn back to old habits, old lifestyle, or practices?

Is there someone in your life you are tempted to give up on? Do not give up. Keep praying for them and follow up with them this week to see how they are doing.