The Way - Day 051 (Galatians 6)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Galatians 6
Paul leaves some final advice for those who believe in Jesus Christ. First, Paul challenges Christians to carefully handle those who have sinned. He seems to recognize that believers are capable of allowing their flesh to gain control over them by not submitting to the Spirit. However, Paul urges the spiritually mature to "restore such an one in a spirit of gentleness." Restoration is sometimes a forgotten art in the modern day church where those who sin are ostracized. Paul's approach to these people is to give them a second chance. When a person sins, we are to help bring them back into fellowship with God through repentance. If the sinning person repents, we should also forgive them and welcome them with open arms. Furthermore, we should consider yourself "lest you also be tempted." Don't cast judgment on a person who has sinned thinking you are not capable of committing the same sin, but rather evidence humility by understanding you are susceptible to the same temptation. Next, Paul commands believers to "bear one another's burdens," which implies helping people cope when difficult times come into their lives. When we do this, we are actually fulfilling the law of Christ through love. In verses 3-4 Paul reminds believers not to think highly of themselves. Considering what he has already addressed, Paul urges Christians to remain humble and understand they are capable of sin and falling on tough times, so instead of judging they should follow the law of love. In Galatians 6:7-9 Paul shared the principle of sowing and reaping. Referring back to the flesh and the Spirit, Paul says that the man who follows his flesh will become corrupt, but the man who walks in the Spirit will experience a high quality of life. In verse 10 Paul simply reminds them to "do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." As he concludes, Paul returns to his ultimate purpose in writing this letter to the churches at Galatia - reject the teachings of the Judaizers and trust in the power of the cross to make them a new creation. "In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything." External obedience to the law cannot change the inward attitudes and actions of a person, but only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit possesses the power to change hearts. Today we must turn away from external rituals and rules thinking that they possess the power to make us right before God and walk in the Spirit who always guides us in the way we should live.

Dear God, each day help me to listen more to the Holy Spirit (and Your Word) as they remind me how to live.