6/1 Galatians 1:1-3
This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group or by human authority. My call is from Jesus Christ himself and from God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead. All the brothers and sisters here join me in sending greetings to the churches of Galatia. May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
PEACE
We need peace. The peace Paul speaks of is the presence of the Lord in our life giving us an active freedom from being at war with the Him. His peace nurtures us. Life has joy and purpose when His peace is in control. Ask Jesus for His peace
6/2 Galatians 1:4-5
He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. That is why all glory belongs to God through all the ages of eternity. Amen.
JESUS
Jesus is first and last, He is our all. Jesus is worthy of all our praise. He is our focus and the substance of our journey. Begin each day with Jesus and you will not fall for the wiles of the world.
6/3 Galatians 1:6-7
I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who in his love and mercy called you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ. You are already following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ.
JESUS
Do not lose your focus. Spend time with Jesus. Get to know Jesus. Keep your focus on Jesus. When your focus is on Jesus you will not lose your perspective nor will you forget who you serve. Jesus if Lord.
6/4 Galatians 1:8-9
Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed. I will say it again: If anyone preaches any other gospel than the one you welcomed, let God’s curse fall upon that person.
JESUS
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is our cry. He died for us. He lives to give us value and worth and guide our every step in His plan for our life. I am no longer at war with the Lord. I am saved and free. Jesus is Lord.
6/5 Galatians 1:10-11
Obviously, I’m not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant. Dear brothers and sisters, I solemnly assure you that the Good News of salvation which I preach is not based on mere human reasoning or logic.
JESUS
We live each day seeking to grow in our relationship with Jesus. He is closer than a brother. He is worthy of our every thought. We can trust our all to Him. The Good News has come. We have accepted this free gift of life in Christ and now are members of the family of God. Jesus is Lord.
6/6 Galatians 1:12-15
For my message came by a direct revelation from Jesus Christ himself. No one else taught me. You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion – how I violently persecuted the Christians. I did my best to get rid of them. I was one of the most religious Jews of my own age, and I tried as hard as possible to follow all the old traditions of my religion. But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me, even before I was born! What undeserved mercy!
JESUS
Jesus knows your name. He knows where you came from and where you can go. You choose if you will go there. The journey begins with surrendering your life to Jesus. It continues by your growing friendship with Him. You choose. Choose right.
6/7 Galatians 1:16-17
Then he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. No, I went away into Arabia and later returned to the city of Damascus.
JESUS
We have direct access to the Lord. We don’t need an intermediary. We go to Him and get to know Him. He will guide us in our growth. He will not turn us away. Jesus loves you and me and He is seeking for our best good.
6/8 Galatians 1:18-20
It was not until three years later that I finally went to Jerusalem for a visit with Peter and stayed there with him for fifteen days. And the only other apostle I met at that time was James, our Lord’s brother. You must believe what I am saying, for I declare before God that I am not lying.
PEOPLE
People count with Jesus. Not just certain people but all people. Christ died for each and every one of us. He would that no one perishes. Christ is looking for you. Have you accepted His free gift? Have you met with Him today? Spend time with Jesus and He will spend time with you.
6/9 Galatians 1:21-24
Then after this visit, I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. And still the Christians in the churches in Judea didn’t know me personally. All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us now preaches the very faith he tried to destroy!” And they gave glory to God because of me.
CHANGE
Paul had a total change experience in his life. It took time for others to see that. You can change. It does take time. It also takes time for others to see it. The problem that everyone faces is that when the Lord changes us we have to change our habits and that can be tough. It is real tough when we whine and moan. It works when we recognize that Jesus will give us what we need to change and then get busy changing. Jesus loves you.
6/10 Galatians 2:1-2
Then fourteen years later I went back to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas; and Titus came along, too. I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I talked privately with the leaders of the church. I wanted them to understand what I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure they did not disagree, or my ministry would have been useless.
PEOPLE
People count with Jesus. We need to be aware of how we impact others. People are important. We want to make sure that what we are doing communicates in the best way possible. I want you to know that Jesus loves you. He has a free gift for you. That gift is life. That life is a new life that gives us membership in the house of the Lord for eternity. The Lord is with us and He is seeking our best.
6/11 Galatians 2:3
And they did agree. They did not even demand that my companion Titus be circumcised, though he was a Gentile.
FELLOWSHIP
You and I can have fellowship. Not because of who be are but because of who Jesus is. He is Lord of life and gives us life. We can follow Him. He is worthy of all of our focus and activity and seeks to have fellowship with us. Therefore, we can have fellowship because we belong to Jesus.
6/12 Galatians 2:4
Even that question wouldn’t have come up except for some so-called Christians there – false ones, really – who came to spy on us and see our freedom in Christ Jesus. They wanted to force us, like slaves, to follow their Jewish regulations.
RULES
Jesus has given us His rule-love the Lord with all of our heart and love each like we love ourselves. He is love. He will give us direction for our life every step of the way. Jesus is God’s everything. We surrender to Him and He will lead us moment by moment all of our life. We do not know the future but we do know the one who holds the future.
6/13 Galatians 2:5
But we refused to listen to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the Good News for you.
TRUTH
You count with Jesus. Your life is important to Him. Your plan is valuable and useful in the kingdom. Do not fear, in a world of fear and anger, Jesus has saved you. Remember He wants to give you guidance. Talk with Him. He is waiting to hear from you this moment.
6/14 Galatians 2:6
And the leaders of the church who were there had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.)
JOY
We can have joy. We are unique and special in the eyes of the Lord. We have not been shortchanged. Every thought the Lord has for you is a thought for good. One of the amazing things about life in Christ is that we are partners together with Christ in His creation.
6/15 Galatians 2:7-8
They saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the Good News to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews. For the same God who worked through Peter for the benefit of the Jews worked through me for the benefit of the Gentiles.
JESUS
Be careful who you follow. Spend time with Jesus. Make sure that you are listening to what He says. Let Him check your ego. Give Him your time to review your sin. Ask Jesus to correct and guide you. Jesus is Lord and there is no other.
6/16 Galatians 2:9
In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews.
PARTNERS
We all need partners. It is noted that a particularly strong horse can pull maybe as much as eight tons. Two strong horses together can pull thirty tons. Together we can do much more than by ourselves. We are ambassadors for Christ and are part of His body in the world.
6/17 Galatians 2:10
The only thing they suggested was that we remember to help the poor, and I have certainly been eager to do that.
RESPONSIBILITY
We are responsible for our gifts and our resources. People need Jesus and they need us. Community in the family is important. All of those we meet are important. Be mindful of those around you who are in need. Let us commit ourselves to help others.
6/18 Galatians 2:11-12
But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him publicly, speaking strongly against what he was doing, for it was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who don’t bother with circumcision. But afterward, when some Jewish friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore because he was afraid of what these legalists would say.
ATTITUDE
We are ambassadors of Christ. We aren’t the ambassador, but we are servants. Check your attitude. Are you seeking to serve? Or are you seeking to be served?
6/19 Galatians 2:13
Then the other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was influenced to join them in their hypocrisy.
JESUS
Note that even the apostles were off base. Jesus must be the focus of our life for us to stay on the right path. He will lead us in the right way and will not let us go astray. The World’s way is never the right way.
6/20 Galatians 2:14-16
When I saw that they were not following the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you trying to make these Gentiles obey the Jewish laws you abandoned? You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ – and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law.”
FAITH
Faith in Jesus Christ saves us. It is a gift from the Father so that no one can boast. Tradition and customs are comforting to hold but they have nothing to do with our relationship with Jesus. It is a first generation relationship, there are no grandchildren in the family of God, and it is developed personally.
6/21 Galatians 2:17
But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of course not!
JESUS
Sanctification takes a lifetime. We are saints in Christ. His gift of eternal life is what makes us saints-the Father sees us through the saving work that Christ has done. The process of sanctifying our life takes every day of our life one day at a time. Life is a process of growth by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
6/22 Galatians 2:18
Rather, I make myself guilty if I rebuild the old system I already tore down.
MAN
There is no good thing that can recommend man to God. We are saved by faith in Christ to live by faith in Christ. Pray, study, grow, pray and do not stop. You will discover that the life you have been given is worthy of your very best. Be yourself. That is who Christ died for.
6/23 Galatians 2:19-20
For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
DAILY
Life in Christ is limited by time and space. Life in Christ is every day. Life in Christ is adequate for you to life a fulfilled and joyous life. His work in you is wonderful. His assignment for you is important. Your life is valuable. Live it.
6/24 Galatians 2:21
I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.
GRACE
Grace is expensive. Grace is complete. The gift of salvation is a grace gift-that cost the life of Jesus Christ. Straightforward, simple and complete-we are saved by His grace. This should cause you to bend your knee in gratitude. Jesus loves you. Listen to His call and accept His grace gift of salvation now if you haven’t already. If you have accepted His grace gift-let Him change the things you say and do. His grace saves you.
6/25 Psalm 129:1-4
A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me – let Israel now say – from my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never been able to finish me off. My back is covered with cuts, as if a farmer had plowed long furrows. But the LORD is good; he has cut the cords used by the ungodly to bind me.
FREEDOM
We are free in Christ. We are no longer bound to our past, our prejudice, our failure, we are free. Jesus died for you and me and His death and resurrections by the power of God offers us the opportunity to come into the Family of God.
6/26 Psalm 129:5-8
May all who hate Jerusalem be turned back in shameful defeat. May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop, turning yellow when only half grown, ignored by the harvester, despised by the binder. And may those who pass by refuse to give them this blessing: “The LORD’s blessings be upon you; we bless you in the LORD’s name.”
BLESSING
Bless the name of the Lord for He has blessed us in Jesus Christ. Jesus is our redeemer, guide, counselor, and friend and is many more glorious blessings from the Father. I can rejoice in Jesus whatever my situation. Jesus is alive and He lives in me.
6/27 Psalm 130:1-2
A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer.
HEARS
The Lord hears you. He hears us even when we don’t know what to say. He knows the most intimate detail about us and our life. We are His-we belong to Him. When you pray, glorify Him for all that He is doing for you. Our relationship with Jesus is a right now relationship. Glory to God in the highest.
6/28 Psalm 130:3
LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?
FORGIVENESS
Jesus deals with us thru forgiveness. He offers forgiveness to us no matter what we do. There are consequences of our sin that we will experience in the flesh but in the spiritual realm Jesus forgives us of all of our sin.
6/29 Psalm 130:4
But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.
FEAR
His offer of forgiveness is so beyond anything we can think or comprehend it should cause us to repent and honor Him. He should have our attention every moment of the day-Jesus forgives our sin. His forgiveness is available if we are available.
6/30 Psalm 130:5-8
I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is unfailing love and an overflowing supply of salvation. He himself will free Israel from every kind of sin.
TRUSTWORTHY
The Lord is trustworthy. We can have confidence in His love. We can build our faith in Him because He always does exactly what He says He will do. Read His Word. Build it into your life so that you will know what the Lord says. Claim His promise and live by faith.
