Galatians, Part 5 — A ‘Time With God’ Audio Devotion

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Transcript

Good morning. Welcome to the end of the work week, and as you do so, don’t forget God, the most important person in your life. Sometimes we don’t think of God on the personal level, but He sure is the most important person you need to think about, and you need to develop your relationship with Him through time with God every single day.

And this week we’re reading through the book of Galatians in the Bible and just allowing God to speak to us. Paul wrote this letter to people who were being misled and taught wrongly that they had to become a Jew, and remember the Jews were all circumcised, and these people were saying, unless you follow all the commandments and become circumcised and become a Jew, you can’t be acceptable to God. And Paul’s telling them, ‘don’t be misled by these people who are teaching those things.’

You’re free to love God. Your salvation, your forgiveness from God isn’t based on you being good enough or keeping certain laws or being circumcised. It’s by grace through faith in Jesus and what He has done for you at the cross. He ends up his letter with this chapter:

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

⁶ Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Glory Only in the Cross

¹¹ See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! ¹² As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

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Blessing and a Plea

¹⁶ And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁸ Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

What an encouraging letter from Paul that we’ve read through this week reminding us it’s not what we do that makes us acceptable to God. It’s what Jesus Christ has already done at the cross.

That is imparted to us and makes us acceptable to God. Relax in your relationship with God. And love Him with all your heart. That’s the key of the Christian life.

I’m John North.