Thought for the Week: Galatians 4

God Adopts Us As His Children

This epistle is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith and the liberty
that produces. Paul directs this
great charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the priceless liberty they possess
in Christ. Certain Jewish legalists
are influencing the believers in
Galatia to trade their freedom
in Christ for bondage to the law.
Paul writes to refute their false
gospel of works & to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Father God, we Love You:
When the set time had finally
come, God sent His Son, born
of a woman, born under the law,
to redeem those under the law,
that we might receive adoption
to sonship (Gal 4:4-5).
And because you are sons,
God has sent forth the Spirit
of His Son into your hearts,
crying out, “Abba Father!”
So you are no longer a slave,
but God’s child; and since you
are His child, God has made
you also an heir (v6-7). Amen.

Dear God, You are not just the
powerful Creator & righteous Lord,
You are also my loving Father.
And when I go thru hard times,
You care and listen to my pleas,
and will guide, provide & protect.
You are never impatient with me
and never “too busy” for me.
Lord Jesus, I do believe in You;
having accepted as Lord & Savior.
Thank You for saving me. Because
of Your grace and my faith in You,
I’m a child of the living God. Amen.

Lord, in times of severe trials,
I can be bombarded with doubts.
Why is all this happening to me?
I can’t believe a loving God would
let his children go thru such trauma.
And tough times can made me
wonder if I really am Your child.
Thank You for the presence of
Your Spirit, who provides assurance
that I belong to You forever. Amen.

Lord, a key and great truth about
You God is that You are personal.
You want us to know you deeply
and intimately. For You are
our Abba Father, Papa, Daddy.
I can readily come to You anytime
and say: Papa, please help me
with this problem. You are a
personal God; and You promise
to make Yourself real to us. Amen.

Thought for the Week: Galatians 2

Christ Jesus Living In Me

This epistle is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith and the liberty
that produces. Paul directs this
great charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the priceless liberty they possess
in Christ. Certain Jewish legalists
are influencing the believers in
Galatia to trade their freedom
in Christ for bondage to the law.
Paul writes to refute their false
gospel of works & to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Lord, we purpose to Live For You:
Knowing that a man is not justified
by the works of the law but by faith
in Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Christ Jesus, that we
must be justified by faith in Christ
and not by the works of the law;
for by the works of the law
no flesh shall be justified (Gal 2:16)
For through the law I died to the
law so that I might Live For 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). Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You that I have
been justified by Faith in You.
And thank You Lord for enabling
me to Live By Faith this life. For
I have been crucified with Christ
and so I no longer live, but You
Christ Lives in me. May the truth of
Your Word enable me to Trust You
so that all You are may dwell in me.
Grant me the grace to live joyously
because of my Faith in You. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving
me and giving Yourself for me.
Thank You for Your desire to live
through me and enable me to
Live For You. What a wonder
that You Lord would take up
residence in my life. In gratitude,
I purpose to Live For You God.
And set me free to serve You
with all my heart and soul. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank you for Your
great sacrificial Love for us. Thank
You that You died for us to pay for
sin’s penalty. Thank You for living
in us to purify us from sin’s power.
Teach me to Live by Confidence
In You instead of confidence in me.
Let the old ways of my flesh
die daily so that I can find new
resurrection life in You. Amen.

Reflection on Galatians (Oct 15)

Trusting God thru His Promises

The purpose of the epistle to the
Galatians is to refute the Judaizers
(who taught that Gentile believers
must obey Jewish law to be saved)
as well as to call Christians to faith and freedom in Christ.

On Mon, we learn from Gal 1 that
God Grants Approval thru Gospel.
On Tuesday, we learn from Gal 2
that Christ Jesus Living In Us.
On Wed, we learn from Gal 3
that God Justifies Us By Faith
On Thursday, we learn from Gal 4
that God Adopts Us as His Children.
On Friday, we learn from Gal 5
that God Grants Spiritual Fruit.
On Sat, we learn from Gal 6 that
God Promises Do-Gooders Reap.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who trust You:
for You justify us by faith, adopt us
as His children & Christ lives in us;
for You Lord grant us spiritual fruit
and approval through the gospel;
for You truly keep Your promises;
including that do-gooders reap.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.