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Galatians 6:14

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.

Personal Challenge

Am I able to make a claim like this one that Paul made in His letter to the church in Galatia? Can I truly claim that I have crucified the worldly part of me on the cross of Jesus? If only I could! I have so far to go in my journey of theosis. I am truly blessed that my God is so patient, merciful, and loving. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is of great strength,
And when the righteous run to it, they are exalted.

Encouraging Words

There is power in words. Sometimes that power is positive and sometimes it is negative. In our culture today, we have mastered the use of words in a negative way. We tear down the other person. We profess lies and call them the truth. We are coercive and manipulative. As followers of Christ, we are called to be countercultural, even to the point of martyrdom. The place to start with this is to run to the name of the Lord, to do and say everything His way. Then we will see Him exalt us into His kingdom here on earth. Glory be to God!

Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Personal Challenge

We are not saved by the works that we do because our salvation is a gift that only God can give us. Our works, or doing good things for God, come from our sense of gratitude for all that He has done for us. Doing these kinds of works never cause us to be weary because He gives us strength until that day when the harvest is reaped. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 17:28 (17:30)

Wisdom shall be imputed to a man without understanding who asks for wisdom,
And anyone who holds his peace will seem to have discernment.

Personal Challenge

I truly believe that we all desire to have wisdom. True wisdom only comes from God. Since we are created in the image of God, it makes sense that we desire to have the wisdom that comes from Him. The act of asking Him for wisdom sincerely shows that we are willing to humble ourselves before Him and seek His blessing of wisdom. Glory be to God.

Galatians 6:1-5

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. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.

Personal Challenge

We are not alone in our journey through life, especially our spiritual journey. We live and thrive in community with one another. We are seeing more and more in our culture people being just plain mean and nasty to one another. We cannot claim to be followers of Christ and behave this way. We must treat others with a spirit of gentleness, bearing one another’s burdens, and loving our neighbor. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Proverbs 17:27 (17:29)

He who refrains from uttering a harsh word is intelligent,
And a longsuffering man has discernment.

Personal Challenge

I love how the Proverbs always cut to the chase. If we keep from uttering harsh words, either verbally or on the keyboard, we are intelligent. If we are longsuffering with all those who are in our live, especially those who drive us crazy, then we have discernment. It couldn’t get any more succinct than that. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy!

Galatians 5:24-26

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Personal Challenge

Do we really want to live a godly, righteous life? It is one thing to say that we do, and it is an entirely different thing to actually do it. To live a godly, righteous life, we must be willing to crucify our fleshly desires and passions on the cross of Christ. We must then desire to live our lives walking in the Spirit, yielding to His leading and not ignoring Him. We will need to avoid conceitedness, provocation, and envy. We must be so close to Jesus that we never lose sight of his footsteps to follow in. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Proverbs 17:14 (17:15)

The foundation of righteousness gives authority to words,
But discord and quarreling precede poverty.

Personal Challenge

What is the foundation of who we are? This is a question that we all need to ask ourselves on a regular basis. Is it based on discord and quarreling? Are we always trying to stir the pot or play the devil’s advocate? Or is our foundation built on righteousness, which only comes from our Lord Jesus Christ? We have a choice. We can live our lives one of these two ways, each of which has their own consequences. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Encouraging Words

If we are followers of Christ blessed by baptism into His body, and anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit, then we have been given the fruit of the Spirit. It is up to us to pick this fruit, eat of it, and let it permeate our lives. What a glorious and life generating, fruit it is. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all ours to claim and let us drive who we are. Glory be to God!