Scripture: Galatians 3:23-24 Before faith came, we were guarded under the Law, locked up until faith that was coming would be revealed, so that the Law became our custodian until Christ so that we might be made righteous by faith. Thought for the Day: Have you ever known a person who was truly overwhelmed by a heavy burden? Maybe you are the person who has known a spiritual
Scripture: Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us—because it is written, Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed. Thought for the Day: As mentioned earlier in a Devotional, the idea of being hung upon a tree was for Paul the most difficult idea to harmonize with his faith. He believed, as the scriptures seemed to indicate,
Scripture: Galatians 2:19-20 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Thought
My heart has been wrenched, O Lord. The core of my being aches this day. The sadness I feel most certainly Does not equal the sadness of heaven, Yet my heart has been wrenched. With every life lost this week, With every family grieved, It feels as if your reign of love is slipping further and further away. My heart has been wrenched, O Lord. My sisters and brothers
Scripture: Galatians 2:16 (the Common English Bible) However, we know that a person isn’t made righteous by the works of the Law but rather through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. We ourselves believed in Christ Jesus so that we could be made righteous by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the Law—because no one will be made righteous by the works of the Law.
Scripture: Galatians 2:9-10 …and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do. Thought for
Scripture: Galatians 2:4-5 But false brothers and sisters, who were brought in secretly, slipped in to spy on our freedom, which we have in Christ Jesus, and to make us slaves. We didn’t give in and submit to them for a single moment, so that the truth of the gospel would continue to be with you. Thought for the Day: Paul speaks of spies who infiltrated worship gatherings
Scripture: Acts 15:5 But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.” Thought for the Day: In yesterday’s devotional, we looked at the disagreements and debating around whether Gentile Converts would be required to basically become Jewish before becoming a full-fledged follower of Jesus. This moment
Scripture: Acts 15:1-2 Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. Thought
Scripture: Luke 6:36-37 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven…” Thought for the Day: I’m taking a slight break from our discussion on Galatians to toss my own thoughts into the gorilla enclosure. As most of you know, a child fell into a