Galatians 1-3

December 5

Galatians 1-3

Sometimes gifts are hard to receive. We want to deserve the gift. We want to give back to pay back for the gift we have been given. The Galatians had accepted the gift God had given them. They realized they could not obey the law, but that God had given them the gift of salvation. But when some men came from Jerusalem and told them they also needed to obey the law, the Galatians began adding the law to faith in Jesus.

Jesus plus nothing is enough. When we try to add to the requirements of our salvation we cheapen the price Jesus paid for us. We in effect are saying His blood is not powerful enough to save us, we need more. "Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." (Galatians 2:16, NIV)

Salvation has always been by faith. Abraham was credited as righteous by faith. The Israelites followed God by faith. The observance of the law was done as a result of faith; faith was not a result of the law. To try to live by the law is a recipe for failure. We cannot live perfectly by the law, but if we try to live by the law, we must live by all of the law. The law is not meant to save us; it reveals our need for a Savior. "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." (Galatians 3:14, NIV)

God has given us the gift of salvation that can only be received by faith. Any attempt to get our salvation by any means other than by faith is to reject God and His gift. We can trust Him to save us because He is good.

2 Corinthians 12-13

December 4

2 Corinthians 12-13

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV)

 

Our tendency is to pray for God to remove the weak points in our lives. We see our weaknesses as places we need to work in order to make them strengths. There are people or situations in our lives that we pray God will remove to give us relief. Sometimes God will remove them, but other times He allows them to remain in order to keep us focused on Him. Where we are strong, we can depend on ourselves, but where we are weak, we must depend on God. When we depend on Him in the places of our weaknesses, His strength, not ours is revealed. Therefore, in our weaknesses we become strong because we are relying on God’s strength.

 

The cross seemed to reveal Jesus’ weakness. He seemed to be overpowered by sinful humanity. The Jewish leaders tried Him and sentenced Him, the people rejected Him and yelled; “crucify Him.” The Romans condemned Him and nailed Him to a cross. Jesus died and it looked like evil had overpowered good. But on that third day, Jesus rose from the grave in victory over sin and death. "For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you." (2 Corinthians 13:4, NIV) Our weaknesses reveal God’s strength. Don’t try to cover your weaknesses, but allow God to shine through them.

2 Corinthians 6-11

December 3

2 Corinthians 6-11

Sometimes churches get a bad reputation because people think the only thing the church wants is their money. This may be true in some circumstances, but often this is an excuse to avoid the subject of giving. Giving of our resources, whether it is money, talent or time, should be a natural response to God’s blessings upon us. Paul wrote of the Macedonians; "And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will." (2 Corinthians 8:5, NIV)

When the church encourages giving, it must begin with the heart. If we give ourselves first to the Lord, He frees up our wallets so we are more willing to give to the work of the Church. The ability to give is a gift of God. He knows that money is one of the idols that have the strongest pull on our hearts. When we are able to give, we are set free from the bondage money has over us. On the practical side, our giving also finances the ministry of God on the earth.

We cannot out give God. When we can give willingly, He opens up the floodgates of heaven and pours His blessings upon us. "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7, NIV)

2 Corinthians 1-5

December 2

2 Corinthians 1-5

Our lives are fragile. We are all only one breath away from eternity. We are weak. But God is our source of strength. If we did not have to worry about death, if we did not have to face our weaknesses, in our sin, we would ignore God. But God is our source of life and strength. Our weaknesses reveal His strengths. His power and sacrifice gives us eternal life.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV)

 

What really matters in life is not what is going on on the outside, but what is going on in our hearts. As we age, our bodies slow down. Disease may overpower our strength. But God will continue to strengthen our spirit as we lean on Him and depend on Him. All that we see is only temporary, the unseen contains the eternal.

 

There will come a day when Jesus comes back or our mortal bodies finally die. But we do not need to worry. If we are in a saving relationship with Jesus, we will get a new body, a heavenly body that will not decay, but will be eternal. On that day our faith will become sight.

1 Corinthians 15-16

December 1

1 Corinthians 15-16

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve." (1 Corinthians 15:3-5, NIV)

 

Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, the most important thing he had to share was that Jesus died for our sin, was buried, and rose on the third day, just as the scriptures had foretold. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, our faith, no matter how strong, is useless. The entire Gospel message hinges on this one historic act. If Jesus did not die, our sins are not atoned for. If He did not rise from the grave we do not have victory.

 

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:20, NIV) Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can have confidence that death has been defeated. We do not have to worry about dying because we can know it is not permanent. Death does not have the final say. Death entered the world through sin. Jesus paid for our sin and put sin to death when He died and rose again as the perfect sacrifice. His victory has given us victory so we can die with Christ and live for Him.

 

"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:54-57, NIV)

 

Praise God for the victory that He won and has given us!