Sept. 15, 2021

Marie’s daily verse: The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace (Psalm 29:11). 

DAILY DEVOTION, Sept. 15, 2021

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law (Galatians 5:16-18).

We have two elements within us vying for supremacy. One is the Holy Spirit which we receive when we trust in Jesus. The other Paul refers to as the ” flesh.” The tense of the Greek verb translated “walk” indicates continuous action or a habitual lifestyle. Walking also implies growth; as a Christian submits to the Spirit’s control responding in obedience to the commands of Scripture, he matures in his spiritual life. What is “the flesh?” The flesh is not simply the physical body, but includes the mind, will, and emotions which are all subject to sin. It refers, in general, to our unredeemed humanness.

We receive a new life when we trust in Jesus. Unfortunately, the old life remains in our memory and habits. We have choices to make daily. Will we walk with Jesus, or will we give in to our old way of life? The two are engaged in an internal struggle. They are utterly contrary to one another. As the Spirit leads us, the old way of life gradually fades away. We need to stop and think regularly; does this choice honor God or honor my old way of life?

Gracious Father, I confess that sometimes I allow my old way of life to flare up. Please forgive me. I want to live under the direction of the Holy Spirit. I want to honor Jesus in my choices. So help me, I pray, in His holy name, Amen.

DAILY DEVOTION, Sept. 14, 2021

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! (Galatians 5:13-15).

Those who Jesus has redeemed are called to live in liberty. What a blessing it is to live in spiritual freedom. But then we receive a word of caution. Do not assume that Christ set you free so you can sin to your heart’s content! However, once we have been set free from sin, we are free to reflect God’s love in serving one another. God set us free, not so we can do whatever we want, but so we can live a life reflecting God’s love. When we live a life of love, we are fulfilling the law of God.

It would seem that some of the Galatians did not get the message! They seem to be engaged in lots of personal conflicts, hence Paul’s warning not to “bite and devour one another.” When we allow anger to replace love we have stepped outside the freedom God gives to us. Paul repeated this idea in Galatians 5:1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Embrace the freedom Christ gives by loving one another. Love makes us law-abiding citizens in the Kingdom of God.

Gracious Father, please forgive me when I allow anger to replace love. Thank You for the freedom I enjoy in Christ. Help me to remember that You have set me free to love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAILY DEVOTION, Sept. 13, 2021

You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4).

Paul continues to battle with false teachers who proclaim that you cannot be saved apart from obeying the Law of God. These teachers were called Judaizers.  Those who follow their teachings are in serious trouble.  Paul’s meaning is that any attempt to be justified by the law rejects salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Those once exposed to the gracious truth of the Gospel, who then turn their backs on Christ and seek to be justified by the law, are separated from Christ.

Can we ever lose our salvation? Paul’s words seem to say, “yes.”. To fall from grace implies that you once embraced grace. To be estranged from Christ means that you once had a relationship with Him. This is a clear warning to us not to add anything to faith as a requirement for salvation. Yes, we do add things to faith. We try to obey God’s enduring commandments. However, we dare not think that our salvation depends on how successful we are at obeying God. Disobedience to Christ does have consequences. Our earthly life does not go well, and we lose rewards in heaven. What we must never do is to think that our obedience must be added to faith to guarantee our salvation. This is a “beware” passage. Father in heaven, help me to see clearly the relationship between faith and good works. I want to cling to Jesus with true faith. Deliver me from confusing the issue by thinking my puny good works somehow strengthen my grip on salvation. Jesus is my Savior, period! In His name, Amen

Colossians 4:2: Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

DAILY DEVOTION, Sept 11, 2021

For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:3-4).

I remember 9/11/01 as if it were yesterday. I was on my way to the DHF office in Lovington, Illinois, when I heard what was happening on the radio. I turned around and went home. I couldn’t work that day. I spent the rest of the day glued to the TV. Scene after scene of horror unfolded. It was totally unexpected. Who would have believed that terrorists could attack our country with so much destruction?  Today is the 20^th anniversary of that attack.

Paul speaks of another unexpected event for which many will be unprepared. He speaks of the Day of the Lord, the return of Jesus. So many live in unbelief, and when Jesus suddenly appears, many will be thinking, “This can’t be happening.” Those who live in the light of divine truth will not be surprised.  It is the day that Christians have longed for through the centuries. 

Since we don’t know when Jesus will return, we must always be ready. The Master told us in clear language that He will return to this earth in triumph. We just don’t know when it will happen. May He find us faithful if He returns in our lifetime. 

Father, I do want to be prepared when Jesus returns. If I should die before that event, I want to stand before You as a faithful Christian redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. I don’t want to be spiritually asleep when Jesus returns. In His name, I pray, Amen.