Galatians 4

When I began reading this chapter, I honestly didn't know what I could take from it. This week has been crazy and I haven't kept up my devotionals as I should have.

I did see in this chapter a reminder that we are all God's children. It is our responsibility and should be our joy to spread the good news of Christ's love for all. Unfortunately, I think we forget how blessed we are to be called God's children. Time to remember!

Faith and Works- Galatians 3

Faith, complete faith in god, is something all Christians strive for. But it is not something we get after so many stars on the board or pay raises. We can't work for it, we just must do it. To follow Christ is to follow the law. These guidelines are what bring us closer to God. Now here's the part I liked: the more we follow the law, the closer to His character we will come.

verses 23-28:

"But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."

On to Galatians! Chapter 2

Paul discusses how different people reach audiences for God. For example, he preached to the Gentiles and Peter to the Jews. Paul points out however, that every man is a sinner, all need faith and a trust in God. No works will save, but pure faith will. Then Your pure faith will manifest itself through your good works for others!

"For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2:19, 20

Happy Sabbath!

Psalm 71:8 NCV

"I am always praising you; all day long I honor you."

Today especially! After a fantastic vespers service last night to welcome the Sabbath, I am especially glad for a break from school and focusing on other things to rest and worship God. I hope though, that throughout this coming week, I can do exactly what this verse says.

Chapter 16

I have reached the end of 1 Corinthians, and looking back, I think it has been quite insightful for me. The last chapter has two verses that I love: verses 13 and 14:

"Be alert. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage, and be strong. Do everything in love."

So do that; today, tomorrow— every morning you wake up, decide to keep you mind and heart open.

See what God will do. 

A Lot of 1 Corinthians 15

The last verse of this chapter is what has really resonated with me the most today. Chapter 15 in quite long, and I read it from two different versions today, the NKJV and the New Century Version (currently my two favorites).But before I get to the last verse, I want to talk about the bulk of the chapter— the resurrection. I did not know that Paul talked about the second coming of Jesus in 1 Corinthians! I felt like I was reading a long-lost chapter of Matthew today! Starting in verse 12, Paul starts getting on the Corinthians case:
   

    Now since we preached that Christ was raised from the dead, why do some of you say that people will not be raised from the dead? If no one is ever raised from the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is worth nothing, and your faith is worth nothing. And also, we are guilty of lying about God, because we testified of him that he raised Christ from the dead. But if people are not raised from the dead, then God never raised Christ. If the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith has nothing to it; you are still guilty of your sins. And those in Christ who have already died are lost. If our hope in Christ is for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone else in the world.

I know, it's a little long, but he makes a good point. If Jesus wasn't raised from the dead, that means no one can be raised from the dead, which means that life is pointless, because there is no second coming or eternal life. 

Skip down a bit to verses 23 ad 24:

      But everyone will be raised to life in the right order. Christ was first to be raised. When Christ comes again, those who belong to him will be raised to life, and then the end will come.

This is where I get confused with those who say that when you die you go straight to heaven. Not only here in Corinthians but in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, and John 14:3 among others, do Jesus and other apostles say how Jesus will come back to get all His children. They aren't just there in heaven as soon as they die. Those who die don't have to watch the earth while impatiently waiting for the end to come. I think that would be unfair. Either way, I'm going with the Bible on this one.

Alrighty, this is getting long, so I'm going to get ready for Project Impact! (a day off from classes to do community service with about 700-800 other people) end with the final verse of 1 Corinthians, which is strangely perfect for today:

     "So my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted."

The Love Chapter- 1 Corinthians 13

Usually this chapter is read on its own. As a lovely and poetic chapter, it is great to read, and serves as a good reminder on what true love is. But tucked into the last chapters of a letter to the Corinthians, I must admit, it is a little out of place. I had never read chapter 13 in context before today. Was Paul trying to connect love and faith to spiritual gifts from chapter 12? There really is not introduction from the last verse of chapter 12 to the first of chapter 13. I suppose they are connected. Paul talks about being an eloquent speaker, and having the gift of prophecy and understanding. Then he states "but [if] I have not love, I am but nothing (verse2b)." This could be a spin-off on the fact that, yes, spiritual gifts are great, and given to you by God to use for His glory. BUT, if we aren't using it for His glory in LOVE, we might as well not even be. How interesting! It all makes sense! i know chapter 14 will wrap it up, but I have to save that for tomorrow, because classes call me.

Live in love, no matter what you do!

Gifts- 1 Corinthians 12

There is only one Holy Spirit, because we serve one real God. But did you know that spiritual gifts are the manifestation of the Holy Spirit?! Yeah, check out verse 7:

     But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all;

Our gifts are also given for the benefit of everyone, not just ourselves. So if we are not using our gifts for God, it's like burning up blank paper, or scrubbing the floor with a brand new dress. We need to use what we are given to its purpose, in this case; our gifts to glorify God.

Please go read the whole chapter, because you might gain something I didn't!

1 Corinthians 11:1- Represent

Verse 1: "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." NKJV

Paul seems quite confident in his representation of Christ. The song, Well Done by Moriah Peters goes along perfectly with what Paul is saying:

     If people walk with me, talk with me looking for truth
     They're gonna find out soon,
     If they're following me then they're gonna follow You.

That's how I want to live. How about you?

1 Corinthians 10

This chapter contains two of my favorite verses: verses 13 and 31.

1 Corinthians 10:13 is a reminder that God will not abandon us when we are tempted. In fact, He won't let us be tempted beyond what we can handle. On top of that, He will make a way of escape! I think this is one of the coolest promises in the Bible. Think about it this way, next time you want that doughnut, or next time that pop up comes around, you can say to yourself, "I can be strong, I can deal with this and resist the temptation, because God is NOT going to allow me more than I can bear." How cool is that?! You and God will be pushing down temptations left and right. Definitely an amazing promise of the Bible.

1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul tells the Corinthians that no matter what we do, do it for the glory of God. Even if you know something is ok, but if even one person thinks it isn't, don't do it. You are looking out for them, not for you. This goes off of 1 Corinthians 8 verses 9 and on. Don't be a stumbling block to others. Their salvation is more important than you personal tastes and styles, or whatever else could get in the way.

Just be a light to others!

Happy Sabbath

"God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing."  Ephesians 2:10 NCV