Category Archives: Galatians

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.

Galatians 1:13-17

Dear God, this is the passage for Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest today, but it also really fits with today’s blog from Fred Smith. Since there seems to be a consistency of message here, I’m wondering if you don’t have something for me to see about breaking away from my own paradigms and seeing your reality instead of my own.

In this particular passage, Paul describes how you basically have him no choice but to break away from the religion of presuppositions of his childhood and see who you really are and what you are doing. So that brings me to the question of what errant paradigms and lenses do I use when I filter the world around me into my mind? Do I allow whether a politician has an R or a D next to their name influence how I hear what they are saying or evaluate what they are doing? Do I prejudge people regularly based on their appearance? Do I reject some good ideas because I deem them too risky or unconventional? The list could go on and on.

Father, help me to simply see what you see. Help me to interpret the world around me with your filters and not my own. Help me to do what you need me to do in any given situation, regardless of my own “wisdom.” Make my life count for your glory and the peace of others.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

Galatians 6:1-3

Dear God, I love the end of this passage: You are not that important. That’s just something to always remember.

My wife and I talked last night about the whole idea of sharing others’ burdens and how hard that can be. She told me a story of something she had done that day to show kindness to one of our next door neighbors. I was impressed because what she did definitely would have been outside of my comfort zone. As individuals, there are times when we reach out to others, to be sure, but there are many times when our default position is to be insular and miss the needs (a.k.a. burdens) around us. I felt like her thoughtfulness really ministered to and encouraged me because it showed me a practical way of service.

Father, help me to minister to those around me when I have the chance—whether it be as an individual or with my wife. I know that reaching out is something you have for us to do because there’s a lot of joy you give us when we do. And especially show us how you would have us reach out to and love this neighbor.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Galatians 5:13-16

Dear God, letting the Holy Spirit guide my life isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds. There are time when it is. Usually it is time when I’ve been in community with other Christians and we have been thinking and talking about you. Outside of that, I have to be pretty intentional about spending my alone time thinking about you and praying to you. Like this Daily time I get with you is pretty intentional, it is good, but if I’m not getting time in Christian community then I am missing something and not acknowledging the Holy Spirit’s place in my life like I should.

Father, help me to be intentional about spending time with you and your Holy Spirit when I am alone, help me to be intentional about bringing him into my everyday conversations, and help me to be intentional about seeking out Christian community. I cannot do my marriage, parenting, work, or friendships without you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

Galatians 4:3-4

Dear God, “But when the right time came.” That’s what catches my attention today. There is something about your timing that is just so far beyond what I can understand and appreciate. I think that is really where the gap between your power and glory and my understanding starts—time.

One thing I started to figure out several years ago is that humans measure time in days, weeks, and months, and you measure time in years, decades, and centuries. But even that is too simple because you are timeless. And then beyond timelessness you see the big picture. You see all 6.5 billion of us at once. You see those who are to come and you see those who have already been here. This is one of those moments when I feel really small, but it is good for me to feel really small.

Father, help me to live the small life you want me to live today. Living in a small town, it is easy to start to see my life as being much more consequential than it really is. Help me to simply be obedient and leave the big picture stuff to you. Be glorified in me and don’t let me do anything that gets in your way.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen