Skip to main content

Daily Devotion: Galatians 2:20-21 (Part 2)

Galatians 2:20-21    "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  (21)  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

"The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."  I read these two verses and receive so much comfort and encouragement from them. Though they speak of the present time, I can see there was a "then and a when" in my life.  By that, I mean there was a time when I was a stranger without Christ in my life. I can honestly say that I cannot remember a time when I did not love God, but at that time the love was only in my mind. I heard about God. I believed there was a God, but I'm not sure at that point that I believed He actually did anything in my life. That was when, as Paul wrote in Ephesians, I was a stranger "from the covenants of promise and had no hope." As I think back, when that was the situation, I didn't have any thoughts as to whether I needed hope or not. That was the "when" in my life.

But "then" God began to deal with me and show me my state of sinfulness. It was at that time that He showed me my need for a Saviour because I knew there was nothing better that I could do. I was made to realize that I already had that perfect Saviour, after God showed me that my sins had been "crucified with Christ".  Yes, Jesus died for my sins and hope was made alive within me because He made the offering to God that brought my life in Christ Jesus into being. It was then that I was made to rejoice because I could see the difference in my everyday "life which I now live in the flesh" was brought about by "the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."  When God revealed this to me, it was then that peace and joy pervaded my very being.

Because these great truths made such a difference in Paul, it seems he could not understand the wavering of those such as Peter and John Mark . May we also realize what a great difference the grace of God has made in our lives as well. We aren't finished with these two verses because I want to digest each part. 

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Enter With Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:1-5

One of the most beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving is the 100th Psalm. Please turn to it and read verses one through five. With all my heart I believe we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. Of all those who “give thanks to Him and praise His name” we should be at the top!  It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, and draw up a list of resolutions for the new year. But there is another list we often overlook - a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. What would your list contain? Most likely, a good part would be material possessions. I’m convinced that we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions.  Like you, I’m sure my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, and the nation we live in, despite all its flaws. But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, my Church family, and the mercy that God showers upon us each d...

Daily Devotion: Colossians 1:25-26

Colossians 1:25-26    “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;  Even   the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:” In verse twenty-four, Paul has expressed his joy in bearing hardship for the church. It is of this church, the body of Jesus Christ, that he is made a minister. Since Paul used the phrase “made a minister” in verse twenty-three of this same chapter, it seems there is something important that he wishes to convey. The Greek word translated as “made” means “to cause to be.” It was the will of God (Col 1:1) that caused Paul to become a minister. God is always the cause of true ministry. Although our fathers may be ministers, if we become true ministers of the gospel it is  not  because our fathers are ministers. True ministers of the gospel do not take that path because they seek honor for themselves, or b...

Daily Devotion: Matthew 6:9-13 (3)

Matthew 6:9-13    "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (11)  Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." When others might go away from us, God has promised never to forsake us. When others might not be truthful, our Father in heaven is faithful and full of truth. When others cannot understand our feelings, our Heavenly Father knows exactly how we feel and is able to empathize with us. In fact, He has told us that He is "touched by the feelings of our infirmities." He is stirred when we are sad.  Our relationship with Him is of th...