Day: June 28, 2017

 

Daily Reading 6-30-17

Galatians 5:7-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Since the coming of Christ, humanity has experienced a propensity for choosing a legalistic approach to faith rather than the gospel of grace Christ actually modeled and taught.  Christ modeled the perfect fulfillment of the Law given to Moses by God; therefore, as we live and move and have our being in Christ we will learn how to obey God’s true Word as it is spoken to our hearts.  The Spirit speaks and we listen and obey.  Christ’s followers are not to be burdened by the “job description or code” of how to earn salvation by following the Law in our own strength.  Apart from Christ and the power of his Spirit, we cannot begin to obey.  If we try to make ourselves holy by practicing a do’s and don’ts list, we will fail every time.

 

Either we believe in the work of Christ on the cross to save us from our sins or we do not.  Grace provides forgiveness for our sins when we believe.  The cross is where the truth of grace actually begins; where we begin the training race of faith in the Spirit who brings holiness to human life.   If we are being taught anything other than obedience to the Word in us, we are leaning toward false teaching or legalism.  Christ came to set us free, so we could learn from him as we live life.  How loving is he?  Thank Amazing Grace!

 

In our passage, today, the Apostle Paul continues his letter to the Church at Galatia.  Legalism is an issue and the person teaching it is distorting the gospel. Mary paraphrasing the Apostle, “Come back to the truth and run the race in Christ!”  Blessings for your day…

 

Galatians 5:7-12 Christ Has Set Us Free

7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.

 

Prayer: Father, please help me to stay focused on learning, because that is what you have called me to do in my connection to Christ.  Today, I am going to take steps and I want each one to count for your Kingdom.  Thank you for taking my sin, so I may learn from you how to operate in holy love.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Reading 6-29-17

Galatians 5:4-6 The Message (MSG)

 

Over the past few days we have been reminded in our readings to keep Jesus, the Living Word, our first love by inviting the Spirit to teach us how to honor his name.  It is a consistent message we find in the gospels, because Jesus taught his disciples, “If you love me you will obey my commandments” (John 14:15).  In other words, if we have really taken to heart the gospel of grace, we will respond with respect to the Word of the Lord by allowing its authority to bring a change in our thoughts and behavior.  Obedience to God’s Word or Commands is how we are conformed to the image of God’s Love.

 

Today, we will gain a glimpse of what I just mentioned above from a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia reminding them the gospel is not about an exterior practice of a religious system.   Rather, the gospel is a faith-instigated internal obedience to the Word that becomes externally visible in our love walk.  How do you see the authority and work of the Word?  Do you understand and appropriate the power of the gospel of grace?  Pray and ask the Lord to reveal His heart to you regarding this Word, today.

 

4-6 I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.

 

Prayer:  Lord, help me to be quick to obey your Word to my heart, today.  I will recognize my level of obedience by how well I love and extend the fruit of the Spirit, today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 6-28-17

Psalm 86:11-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

We can all testify to times when we really needed help.  In our passage this morning, the psalmist is reaching out to God in prayer in order to gain help.  What does he want help with?  He wants the Lord to teach him how to honor His name.  Let our prayer today be, “Lord, teach me how to honor your name, today!”  

 

Teach me your ways, O Lord,

    that I may live according to your truth!

Grant me purity of heart,

    so that I may honor you.

12 

With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.

    I will give glory to your name forever,

13 

for your love for me is very great.

    You have rescued me from the depths of death.

 

Prayer:  Lord, please hear my prayer and teach me anew how to honor your name.  I want to bring glory to you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.