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?