Scripture: Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love. Thought for the Day: I came across an article as I was working on a sermon for next month. I liked the title, so I started reading. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. In fact, the title was the antithesis
Sorry, but I accidentally did the same devotional two days in a row. Here is the one intended for yesterday, plus today’s. July 25, 2013 Scripture: Galatians 4:27-28 For it is written, “Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the
Scripture: Galatians 4:25-26 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. Thought for the Day: As we talked about in an earlier devotional, Paul speaks of how this is all an allegory, a story that points beyond itself.
Scripture: Galatians 4:25-26 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. Thought for the Day: As we talked about in an earlier devotional, Paul speaks of how this is all an allegory, a story that points beyond itself.
Scripture: Galatians 4:21-24 Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. Now
Scripture: Galatians 4:19-20 My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. Thought for the Day: How seriously do you take the faith needs of others? Paul uses a motherly image to portray both the intimacy and pain he
Scripture: Galatians 4:15 What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Thought for the Day: Yuck! That’s disgusting! Is Paul suggesting self-mutilation for the sake of the faith? …probably not. It is thought that Paul was using a common figure of speech…at least common in his day. It
Scripture: Galatians 4:13-14 You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you; though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. Thought for the Day: There has been an ongoing speculative debate about Paul’s physical infirmity. Paul was vague at best when
Scripture: Galatians 4:6-12 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods. Now, however, that you have come to know
Scripture: Galatians 4:1-5 My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God