118th Week, Galatians Chapters 2 & 3 (Click on Title for Video Introdution)

 Click on Title for video Intro

Monday, Galatians Chapter 2A (Verses 1-10)

Galatians 2A

Verse 6

Jane Jones

Verse 6: As for those who seemed to be important---whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance---those men added nothing to my message.

THOUGHT

How easy it is to judge people by their appearance, what we see externally in a person. I can remember when I took my children, Matt and Bart, to the park one day for a picnic. They were 8 and 4 respectively. A lady approached and told me what beautiful grandchildren I had. At that time in my life I was 33 years Old. People relate gray hair to age, so in retrospect I looked liked a grandmother not a mother. After telling her they were my children, she was embarrassed and I was crushed. (Smiles) 

Anyway, it is easy to rate people on the basis of their official status, appearance, and to be intimidated by powerful people. We should show respect for our spiritual leaders, but our ultimate allegiance must be to Christ. We are to serve him with our whole being. God doesn't rate us according to our status; he looks at the attitude of our hearts. (1 Samuel 16:7 and Hebrews 4:12) It is ‘the heart’ that counts... 

PRAYER

Father God, encourage us to look deep within our hearts, and may we find attitudes that You would be proud of. We look forward to a restful night preparing us to face tomorrow. AMEN 

Tuesday, Galatians Chapter 2B (Verses 11-21)

Galatians 2B

Verse 20 

Jane Jones

Verse 20:   I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer Live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

THOUGHT

There have been days in my life that I am so totally relieved and glad that someone else is in control of everything. At the beginning of a day or even at the end of the day, the overwhelming feeling of all I did or all I have yet to do just strangles me at times. A lot of it is the type of person I am; but I know that when that creeping feeling of being overwhelmed starts entering my mind, I praise God that He is in control anyway so why not give it all to him. 

I can't help but think of Tanya's email at the end of last week thanking us for the continual prayers for her and her family. In my eyes I have no idea how she has held everything together as a wife, mom, daughter, sister, and employee. She remarked early on in June when everything was happening so fast with the birth of Tony, the new job, the move, and that there was no way she was going to be able to handle all of this alone. She asked for prayer that she may be able to surrender this everyday to the Lord...and that she did. We are now in October, and God is still in control. 

In our daily life, we have Christ's resurrection power as we continue to fight sin. We are reconciled with God and are free to grow into Christ's likeness. We are no longer alone, for Christ lives in us—He is our power for living and our hope for the future. To Him be all the glory. 

PRAYER

Dear Lord, we thank You for living in us and never leaving us alone. We pray that the Salt Shakers will have great fellowship. Thanks for granting us peace of mind and assistance when we ask, Lord. AMEN 

Wednesday, Galatians Chapter 3A (Verses 1-14)

Galatians 3A

Verse 11

Bart Strayer

Verse 11: Clearly no one is justified before God by law, because, 'the righteous will live by faith’.

THOUGHT

I like verse 11. I like the clarity that Paul is providing with regards to the Old Testament law. His words don't contradict God's governing authority over man, but they don’t disregard the amazing work on the cross and the resurrection either. (I will talk more about that tomorrow.) I like these words in this verse because they underscore the completeness of the cross. Christ is sufficient. Works alone cannot get you to heaven. The law is the law, and it should be followed. But Christ has got the keys to eternal life.

PRAYER

Lord, we thank You for the cross. Create in us a new appreciation for Your loving acts 2000 years ago. Guide us during these uncertain times. We ask for help in finding jobs, selling homes, and sustaining life. I thank You in advance for the marvelous work that You are doing in each of us.  In Jesus Name. AMEN

Thursday, Galatians Chapter 3B (Verses 15-29)

Galatians 3B

Verse 19

Bart Strayer

Verse 19: What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.

THOUGHT

The Old Testament law tells us volumes about God’s character and what He expects of us. It acts like a window into God’s framework for man. The law showed us how to obey God. Jesus and His work on the cross do not undo the law, but more importantly, it allows access by faith to the Father. On a similar note, I think it is important for us not to lose sight of the Old Testament law. It was God’s instruction for us. However, let us depend on our faith in Christ alone for our salvation.

PRAYER

Lord, we thank You for Your unchanging ways. We need that constant rock to stand on. We thank You for Your transforming power in our lives. Mold us into the likeness of Your Image. Guide us in every avenue of our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Friday, Judaizers Versus Paul

This information is taken from my Life Application Bible

What the Judaizers said about Paul

1.  They said he was perverting the truth. 

2.  They said he was a traitor to the Jewish faith.

3.  They said he compromised and watered down his message for the Gentiles.

4.  They said he was disregarding the law olive of Moses. 

Paul's defense

1.  He received his message from Christ Himself.

2.  Paul was one of the most dedicated Jews of his time.  Yet, in the midst of one of his most zealous acts, God transformed him through a revelation of the Good News about Jesus.  

3.  The other apostles declared that the message Paul preached was the true gospel. 

4.  Far from degrading the law, Paul puts the law in its proper place.  He says it shows  people where they have sinned, and it points them to Christ.  

As the debate raged between the Gentile Christians and the Judaizers, Paul found it necessary to write to the churches in Galatia.  The Judaizers were trying to undermine Paul's authority, and they taught a false gospel.  In reply, Paul defended his authority as an apostle and the truth of his message.  The debate over Jewish laws and Gentile Christians was officially resolved at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15), yet it continued to be a point of contention after that time.