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Galatians 3:24-6:18; Acts 15:1-21<\/strong><\/span> I love Paul\u2019s teachings today in Galatians chapter 4 verses 3 through 7! \u201cAnd that\u2019s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. Now you are no longer a slave but God\u2019s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you believe these teachings of Paul\u2019s to be true?\u00a0 Are you a child of God?\u00a0 Has God sent the Spirit of Jesus into your heart?\u00a0 Do you today call God your dear Father?\u00a0 Do you believe that everything God has belongs to you because you are his child?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Galatians titled \u201cThe Contribution of the Mosaic Covenant\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, \u201cThe Inferiority of Immaturity\u201d <\/strong>is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, and \u201cPaul Gets Personal\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link.<\/span>\u00a0 Below is a great image for Galatians 3:28 from today\u2019s readings:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Galatians chapter 5 is a great teaching on our freedom in Christ!\u00a0 Verse 1 is so very powerful: \u201cSo Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don\u2019t get tied up again in slavery to the law.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Has Jesus set you free?\u00a0 Has He set you free from the slavery of sin?\u00a0 Has He set you free from the slavery of the law?\u00a0 If you are not yet free, today will you hand over the controls of your life to Jesus and let Him once and for all set you free!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n I also love verses 5 & 6 \u2013 \u201cBut we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I like that thought of eagerly waiting to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith.\u00a0 Are you eagerly waiting for everything promised?\u00a0 Do you have the hope of glory?\u00a0 And then the last sentence of what is important is powerful \u2013 faith expressing itself in love!\u00a0 Not faith expressing itself in hate\u2026.\u00a0 Faith expressing itself in love.\u00a0 Is your faith expressing itself in love?\u00a0 This reminds me of the old song \u2013 \u201cThey will know we are Christians by our love.\u00a0 By our love.\u00a0 Yes, they\u2019ll know we are Christians by our love.\u201d\u00a0 Amen!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s fantastic commentary on today\u2019s readings in Galatians titled \u201cThe Goal of the Gospel\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 Below is a great image for Galatians 5:6 from today\u2019s readings:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n I love Paul\u2019s teaching in Galatians 5 verses 22 & 23 today \u2013 \u201cBut when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>It is incredible I think for each of us to really meditate on this question \u2013 does the Holy Spirit control your life?\u00a0 I think so often \u2013 even after coming to faith in Christ \u2013 we still try to hold onto the controls of our life!\u00a0 I know I do.\u00a0 And yet, when I finally realize that I should instead \u201clet go, and let God\u201d, my life gets 100 times easier.\u00a0 I don\u2019t stress and worry about things any more.\u00a0 When I let myself be controlled by the Holy Spirit I finally realize that this is where true LIFE is at!\u00a0 It\u2019s not in hanging on so tightly to the steering wheel\u2026\u00a0 \u00a0Then, as we truly let the Holy Spirit control our lives, we begin to see amazing fruits being born in us!\u00a0 Do you see these fruits in your life today?\u00a0 Love?\u00a0 Joy?\u00a0 Peace?\u00a0 Patience?\u00a0 Kindness?\u00a0 Goodness?\u00a0 Faithfulness?\u00a0 Gentleness?\u00a0 Self-control?\u00a0 How are you doing on letting the Holy Spirit control your life these days?\u00a0 Who is holding on to your steering wheel \u2013 you or the Holy Spirit?\u00a0 Will you now let go of that steering wheel?\u00a0 Will you \u201clet go, and let God.\u201d\u00a0 Will you let the fruits of the Spirit fully grow in your life?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s terrific commentary on today\u2019s readings in Galatians titled \u201cThe War Without And the War Within\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 Below is a great image for Galatians 5:16 from today\u2019s readings!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n We finish up Paul\u2019s letter to the Galatians today.\u00a0 Paul\u2019s letter to the church in Ephesus begins tomorrow!\u00a0 We read some powerful teachings in Galatians chapter 6 today.\u00a0 I love verse 1: \u201cDear brothers and sisters, if another Christian\u00a0is 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.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This is such a great teaching.\u00a0 And one that I have a hunch we do not follow often enough\u2026\u00a0 When was the last time you gently and humbly helped someone who is overcome by sin get back on the right track?\u00a0 I know for me that it has not been recently.\u00a0 And I know I\u2019ve missed some opportunities in this regard.\u00a0 The last sentence in this verse is powerful and reminds me that we need to be particularly careful around sexual sin I think \u2013 to make sure we don\u2019t fall into the same temptation ourselves.\u00a0 One important note for all of us is to not discuss with someone of the opposite sex their struggles with sexual sin!\u00a0 It is foolish to do so I believe.\u00a0 Men can discuss and counsel men in the area of sexual sin.\u00a0 And women, women.\u00a0 But I think it is just way too risky for men to discuss or counsel women in the area of sexual sin \u2013 and vice versa.\u00a0 I think we just open ourselves up potentially to temptation if we do this.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure there are exceptions to this, but generally speaking, don\u2019t go into a discussion on personal sexual sin struggles with someone of the opposite sex!\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s excellent commentary on today\u2019s readings in Galatians titled \u201cBearing Burdens: How One Sinner Relates to the Sin of Another\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cSowing and Reaping\u201d <\/strong>is <\/span>at this link.<\/span>\u00a0 Below is an image for Galatians 6:14 in today\u2019s readings:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Peter\u2019s teaching at The Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15 verse 11 is one of the most important verses that all of us should really meditate upon and know and believe: \u201cWe believe that we are all saved the same way, by the special favor of the Lord Jesus.\u201d<\/em> Do you believe Peter here?\u00a0 Do you believe this to be true?\u00a0 Does this simple message of this little button below ring true to you?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s Acts readings titled \u201cThe Jerusalem Council: The Gospel Defined and Defended\u201d <\/strong>is <\/span>at this link<\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:\u00a0 <\/strong>Based on my Galatians 5 verse 6 reflection above, you knew I\u2019d find \u201cThey\u2019ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love\u201d on YouTube right?\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Here\u2019s the song performed by Jars of Clay set to a powerful video with U.S. and worldwide poverty statistics and some related Scripture verses.\u00a0 Please watch this video and see if God speaks to you in any new ways about loving others who are living in poverty:<\/span><\/p>\n
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