Paul is exhorting the Galatians that no matter how carefully they follow the Law or attempt to gain favor with God by good works – justification comes only through God’s grace by faith in Jesus Christ alone. This term “Justification by Faith” was declared by Martin Luther, and alone is the doctrine upon which the Protestant Reformation stands. Justification by Faith means we cannot be made righteous by what we do, for it is only through faith in Christ, not our goodness or good deeds that save us. (Romans 3:20) This faith that justifies is called living faith and is not some empty profession, but rather a personal trust that clings to Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Author: kezha1
A Christian mother, grandmother, and retired nurse living in Illinois. Called into a ministry of encouraging others to find their ultimate plan and purpose in life through Christ.
Job 13:5 ” If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.”
By Chapter 13 of Job, his friends have been offering lots of opinions, feelings, and judgments. And finally, Job as had enough of their worthless counsel, argumentative tone, and refusal to listen and hear what he was saying to them. These three men had traveled to comfort Job but instead were bent on confrontation and conflict. Mother Teresa once said, ” Be selective in your battles, sometimes peace is better than being right.” And as I care for my 92-year-old father in our home, I have learned this axiom well. I now pick my battles with him as he desperately tries to maintain his independence. I ask myself, “Am I willing to spill blood over this?”…And if the answer is no, I use prudence, diplomacy, and good sense to ensure he still stays safe.
“Every command of Christ bears today’s date.” Charles Spurgeon
As God’s creatures, we are required to do what is right… to live according to God’s moral law, and to obey Him…all of which are plainly revealed in His Word. And as Spurgeon wrote, there is no expiration date on God’s commands. They are just as applicable to our life today as they were for Paul or Timothy…and just as relevant to our struggles as they were to Simon Peter. Nothing has changed with God’s Word, we are still to love one another, walk in His ways, believe and trust in Him as our Lord and Savior, and obey His commands.
Proverbs 19:11 ” A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”
To take offense is becoming angry or upset by something that another person has said or done. We feel injured, humiliated, and threatened when someone expresses something negative about us. For the natural response to any threat is to take offense…with even a casual or offhand remark gnawing at us. Those who find themselves easily offended; will tend to have a false perspective of their security. That’s because our security cannot be rooted in ourselves…it must be in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As Proverbs 19:11 tells us, when we cover an offense, we give grace and empathy to the offender. And when we choose to overlook an offense, we give ourselves a valuable gift – the reminder that our security is not based on others’ opinions of us, but on the security, we have in Christ. (Ephesians 1:5-7)
“The most beautiful souls are those who survive the fire and come back with water to help those who are still struggling within it.” Mother Teresa
God will intentionally bring people across your path that are in a battle where you’ve just come from. Now our first reaction is to not share our story, for it’s still too new and it hurts to talk about it. But be brave, for God has mercifully brought you through…and you have prevailed victoriously, so speak. Yes, it may be scary to return to those dark times, but you are the very best person to bring water for the blaze they’re currently in the middle of. That’s because the water you bring is the Living Water of God’s Word…filled with truth, light, and your undeniable testimony of how the Lord quenched the flames that were trying to overtake you.
Job 3:25 ” What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.”
It’s a common human condition of fearing loss and suffering…of our mind immediately going to worst case scenario whenever we fear losing God’s favor and blessings. It’s when those deep-seated anxieties and fears become our reality, as we experience overwhelming physical and/or spiritual desolation, that we need to turn to God. For if you think about it, our good health and mental wellbeing is but fleeting and transitory in this world today…and Job was keenly aware of this. We are not exempt from afflictions, loss, and suffering…but we do have a God who is with us through it all.
Proverbs 14:3 ” A fool’s talk bring a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.”
When a fool lashes out with arrogant words, it usually leads to negative consequences. Their words can range from stupid to tactless, from embarrassing to inappropriate, and many times their words are deliberate and willful to hurt. When a fool opens his mouth, too often out will spill the manifestations of his character and disposition…while a wise person is prudent and thoughtful in what they say, for Proverbs 10:14 tells us that the wise person continues to learn from the Lord and gain wisdom, but the fool claims to know it all.
Colossians 2:9-10 ” For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, Who is the head over every power and authority.”
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “You will never know the fullness of Christ until you know the emptiness of everything but Christ.” There is a God-shaped void within every human being which we attempt to fill with every worldly thing. But instead of feeling fulfilled, we feel empty. But when we allow the Godhead of Jesus Christ to abide within us, that void is filled with the Master of the universe with all His power and authority. And as we journey along with Him, we become more and more like Him…”Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)
Forgive, Forego, Forget, Forsake, Follow.
To receive the joy of the Lord, we must first have the foundational truth of meeting with Jesus on a daily basis. (Isaiah 28:16) On this bedrock of faith you can then forgive, (Luke 6:37) in order that unforgiveness & bitterness will not be able to take root. The next is to forego, (Luke 9:62) which means to surrender and relinquish the past to the Lord. Philippians 3:13 tells us then to forget, remembering that the past is the past, so allow it to remain there …for we can’t change a thing about it. Next, Isaiah 55:7 warns us to forsake, leaving behind unhealthy habits, casting off secret sins, and putting aside all the worldly things that take our attention off God. Lastly, follow closely after the Lord, (Matthew 16:24) which means learning Who He is by reading His Word, praying, and dwelling in His Presence.
I Corinthians 12:12 ” The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”
Our human body is a complex network of ten Systems that work together perfectly. Each System is made up of many, many parts functioning seamlessly together…each cell, vessel, and organ keeping you alive…every part having its own unique purpose but unable to function in isolation. We can readily realize this when one part of our body is experiencing illness and/or difficulties and see how our entire body can be affected/suffer. The Church is called “The Body of Christ” and here the Apostle Paul is comparing it to our human body…many parts working together in unity, harmony, and continuity.
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