As Paul writes to the churches in Galatia, who were being persuaded by false teachers to trust in the law and their works rather than in the grace of God alone, he reminds them of how well they were doing before they began to listen to these false teachers. He writes to them, “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?”
They were running the race of faith so well, with their eyes on the grace of God. They were loving one another, bearing one another’s burdens, and not criticizing each other. Then the legalists came, saying, “Oh you’re a Christian? Are you keeping the law? Have you been circumcised? Are you praying three times a day? Do you tithe of all that you have? Well, if you’re not, you can’t really call yourself a true believer.” They hindered the new believers from obeying the truth of God’s word.
We are saved by grace, not by works; it’s a gift we have been given by God. So stay in the race, live by the grace of God, and as you obey the truth, you will finish well.
Pastor Doug Hardin
I am going to wager when you first gave your life to Jesus the first thing you heard wasn’t, “Great! Get ready for tribulations that Jesus has promised!” It isn’t the most appealing thing to anyone, but for us as Christians it really should be.
A tribulation is a cause of trouble or suffering, yet Paul says that we should glory or boast. That would be completely crazy if we did not have the follow up knowing what these tribulations produce in us. What tribulations has the Lord placed before you that you get to glory in today?
Resting in Him,
Pastor Sean Boehm
The Apostle Paul is asking his friend Philemon to forgive a runaway slave named Onesimus. The exact details are not given to us but it would seem Onesimus robbed his master Philemon and then ran away to Rome hoping to hide in the big city. In Rome, Onesimus meets Paul, who is currently being held as a prisoner, and becomes Paul’s disciple. Paul then writes this letter to his friend Philemon and instructs his new disciple Onesimus to carry the letter home to his Master and ask for forgiveness. The letter contains five reasons for Philemon to forgive Onesimus.
In the verse above, this fifth plea is for forgiveness. Paul suggests that God is using Onesimus’ mistake, his sin of running away, for a greater purpose. Paul made a similar statement in Romans 8:28, “we know that all things work together for the good of them who love God…” Never forget that God is bigger than our mistakes. We must never sin assuming God will be lenient, that would be foolish (Romans 6:1). Rather when we sin, we must be quick to confess and ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). But once we have confessed and asked for forgiveness, we must be confident that God has forgiven us and can even use our mistakes for His glory. How like our God to have good plans for us, even when we are at our worst. Knowing this makes me want to love Him and obey Him all the more.
In awe of Him,
Pastor Rod Harris
You have to admire Job’s integrity and firm resolve to remain faithful even though he felt everything was being stripped away. He even goes to the extreme of saying, “As God lives,” which is like inviting God to kill you if you weren’t telling the truth. We need to remember that Job is making this commitment prospectively. He doesn’t know what the future holds but he’s committing today to walk in integrity tomorrow. We should take some time today and sincerely commit to the Lord, because we are here for the “long run” no matter what comes our way.
As long as I have breath,
Pastor Gerard Deleeuw
Psalm 95 focuses on the last lessons the nation Israel had learned and seeks to apply them in the present tense. Our verse this morning declares the glorious truths that God is our God, we are His sheep, and we’re cared for by Him in His pasture. Yet one lesson from the past was that God’s sheep did not always listen to the words of the Shepherd and found great difficulties in the process. If we would heed His direction, we could avoid unnecessary suffering and setbacks and discover instead the life and joy that following God’s counsel, His voice, would bring.
What has God been speaking to your heart lately? Are you responding or just turning a deaf ear? Today if you will hear His voice…
Seeking to hear and respond immediately,
Pastor Jack Abeelen
Due to our flesh, it is our natural tendency to want to complain. It’s probably the easiest thing in the world to do because it requires little to no effort to find something you don’t like and pick it apart. However, complaining never helps anyone. You want to know what helps? Doing the opposite.
Praising the Lord and taking stock in all the benefits that God has provided us is fuel for the soul. The Lord has given us more than we could ask or think when we truly consider the state of our souls and our security we have in Christ. Do yourself a favor today, praise the Lord for everything you do have, and enjoy the blessings He bestows upon you as He fills your soul with His goodness.
Pastor Jason Witt
The Thessalonian church was a church who loved the Lord. They were on fire. However, there was a rumor going around the rapture had already happened and that those who have died already missed it. But notice Paul says, “lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” We have this hope for anyone who passes away that believes in the Lord. If we continue reading, we know that we will see them again.
I recently had a loved one pass away. Though it was tough, there was this peace (Philippians 4:7) that came over me. I kept remembering this verse and the hope that I have in the Lord that I will see them again. That’s what Paul was trying to get through to this church. Don’t worry about those who sleep in Jesus. You don’t have to grieve like those who have no hope. Our hope is that we will someday be with the Lord and with those who are in Him. How refreshing these words are to me and the importance for me to go out and share with everyone I know and love.
Joshua Navarro
As believers, prayer is an essential part of our daily lives. When things are going well, we pray to our Heavenly Father with joy and gratitude. When things appear to be going sideways in our lives, we pray a lot more often, and our prayers become impassioned pleas as we cry out to God with all we’ve got.
Our prayers are sometimes in quick response to a situation, or, like David’s intention in this verse, planned for with time set aside. When we have the privilege to approach the Lord in this way, our prayers become as incense set before His throne. Lit with the fire of His Spirit. Burning with sweet surrender. Our hands lifted to heaven as a sacrifice of praise.
Today, let’s take the time to set our prayer before Him with our full attention. It will definitely please our King, and it will strengthen our souls as we invest our time in the One who loves us beyond measure.
Jeff Deal
What does the law bring to man? It brings a curse, because to be justified by it, you must keep “all” of it and not fail in any of it, “Cursed is the one who does not keep ALL things written in the book of the law.” Our works aren’t graded on a curve, we don’t get points for doing better than others, or even end up in the upper percentile of law keepers. It’s all or nothing.
The law is a curse to those who think that they can earn God’s favor and be justified by trying to keep it when there is no way they can. So what is the law for? It is there to teach us that “The just shall live by faith.”
The law and faith are so contrary to one another, because if you want to live by the law, it’s up to you to do it. But faith is not of us, it comes from God. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather trust in what God can do in me, rather than what I can never do on my own.
Pastor Doug Hardin
Have you ever been in a trial so big that you feel that there is no way out? You feel like you are in the ocean being drowned by the waves and as soon as you can catch your breath, the next wave comes. Whatever your trial or storm may be, it is important to know that it is not too big for the Lord. Sometimes we make our problems big and our God small but it is important for us to remember that He is the Creator of all things and that nothing is too hard for Him.
If you find yourself making God small take comfort in the fact that people like Jeremiah and Abraham (Genesis 18:14) had to be reminded to put things in the right perspective. So whether it is financial troubles, illness, a rebellious loved one gone astray, or whatever it may be, there is nothing too hard for God!
Blessings,
Daniel Batistelli
