Welcome to our devotional plan on the book of Galatians.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Galatia. Christianity and faith in Jesus Christ was spreading across the Middle Eastern world. For centuries only the Jewish people believed for a Messiah. Now Jesus had come to save all people from sin and death, every nation, male and female, young and old, everyone. The only way to life is through Jesus and his finished work on the cross.
Many Jews wanted these new Christians to follow Jewish law including circumcision to come to Jesus. To say Paul was angry about this would be an understatement. He writes this letter to declare the Gospel of Jesus, the freedom in Jesus and the new multi ethnic family united under Jesus. Also to declare that we are renewed and transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Click on the daily links to take you straight to the verses in the Youversion app)
Let’s jump in together and read chapter 1.
Paul is passionate about the Good News of Jesus - The Gospel. That Jesus God Himself laid down his life on the cross and rose from the grave. He defeated sin and death and through faith in Jesus alone we are given life.
Why is this so important to Paul and why should it be important to us
Paul gave his life for this Good News of Jesus. This Good News transformed his life.
How was it transformed yours?
extra reading Acts 9:1-19
One of the major conflicts in the early church was the inclusion and invitation to all ethnicities to follow Jesus and become a part of the new multi ethnic family of faith. Many Jews wanted the Gentiles to follow the law and be circumcised, but through Jesus is the only way to life.
Important to note the poor are of such importance to the early church. Have we lost that?
Paul confronted Peter for his hypocrisy, sometimes he ate with Jews and sometimes he didn’t. We can be critical but we have our own moments. We hold some sins higher than others. Standards we have for others we ourselves don’t meet. We receive grace and forgiveness but don’t pass it on.
How can we have humble and repentant hearts?
It seems the Galatian church received the Gospel by faith, but has now started to rely and emphasise the law and good deeds to be made right with God. This is foolish according to Paul.
Have you ever started in faith but finished in works?
Have you ever taken things into your own power?
We are all children of God through faith in Jesus. Jew and Gentile, the Galatia church and us today. This was always God’s plan from the start.
Do you see yourself as a child of God? Do you see other people as children of God? Why does this matter?
We are adopted into the family of faith as children of God. We aren’t off to the side. We are fully in. Abba Father is best translated as Daddy. Seems undignified at a glance but shows such intimacy with our Father. We are loved so much by our Father in heaven.
How do you see the Father in heaven? Jesus perfectly reveals the Father, does this change how you see Him?
Paul references the Old Testament story of Abraham, Hagar and Sarah. God promised a child to Abraham. Sarah was old so they took it into their own hands and he had a child with Hagar. God delivered on his promise and gave a child to Sarah even though she was very old.
Have you ever taken the promises of God into your own hands?
Paul is angry that some Jews were trying to convince people to be circumcised to make themselves right with God. We are free! Jesus has set us free.
Is there anything you need to be set free of today? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and bring freedom.
Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit. As we follow Jesus, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and it produces these things in our life. We can’t pick and choose. Can’t have joy and neglect patience. Can’t have peace and pass on gentleness.
Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and produce these things in your life.
A man reaps what he sows. What are you sowing? Into your time with God? Your family? Our church and community? A harvest of blessing is promised. The sacrifice is worth it.
Paul can only boast about the cross! Do we ever boast about anything more than the cross? Are we ever more proud of our ‘Christian’ behaviour than the cross?
Let’s stay humble and always come back to the cross and the life we have in Jesus.