Devo Aug 29 Galatians 3

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes
that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you
only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with
faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being
perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed
it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles
among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just
as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And
the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the
nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along
with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written,
“Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book
of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified
before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the
law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for
us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so
that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so
that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Reflection
1. Continuing from the last part of Ch 2, Paul further developed the
argument of Justification by faith alone. He pointed out the Galatians’
own experience (v1-5) and Abraham’s example; they all demonstrated
that salvation is by faith and not law (v6-14). Law never
abandoned promise as the key to God’s dealings with man (v15-25)
and in Christ believers become sons of God (v26-29).

2. The Galatians had been taught that they had received the Holy Spirit
by faith and not by obeying the law. However, they still thought
it was too simplistic to be saved by faith only. They wanted to
have some rules and creeds to follow in order to feel closer to God.
Spiritual exercises such as prayer and Bible reading as well as serving
may help us grow spiritually but it can never replace the work
of the Holy Spirit. Paul raised some pointed questions (vv1-4), and
tried to help them to restore Christ as the center of their faith.

3. Do you think it is not realistic to depend on faith alone for salvation?
Do you think your faith is too simplistic? Would you think that perhaps
a bit more work on your part may bring more assurance? Stay
at this point for a while.

Personal Note:
I am called to work as a pastor in building up the people in PGC.  I need to work diligently.  I plan, prepare, preach, visit, lead, teach my brothers and sisters to do the will of God.  My salvation does not depend on the work I do.  I have faith that my sins are forgiven and my relationship with God through Christ is certain.  I work because it gives me joy and it is what God designed me to do.

Devo Aug 27 Galatians 1

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus
Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the
brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according
to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever
and ever. Amen.
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in
the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there
is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the
gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to
you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9
As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you
a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying
to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant
of Christ.

Reflection
1. Paul greeted the Galatians (v1-5) and immediately launched a defense
of his gospel (v6-10). He received this gospel directly from
God (v11-23).
2. The gospel these false teachers taught to the Galatians was essentially
different from the Gospel of God (vv6-9). Paul said it’s no
gospel at all. Any message that tells us “try harder” is not good
news at all. No matter how hard we may try, we can never be
good enough to escape the bondage of “the present evil age.” Only
God’s grace, through the person of Jesus Christ, is truly Gospel
– “Good News.”
3. What are some ways the gospel is being distorted today? How can
you ensure that the gospel you believe and preach is the true gospel?
How can you increase your understanding of the gospel?
4. How might the way you present the gospel be different if you are
seeking the approval of people vs of God (v10)? Ask the Holy
Spirit to show you your true intention and pray for God’s forgiveness
and/or empowerment to bear truthful and fruitful witness for
Him.

Devo Aug 20 2 Corinthians 10

¹By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away! ²I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. ³For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ⁶And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

⁷You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. ⁸For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

REFLECTION

1. From Paul’s example here, what is supposed to be the “normal” way Christians exercise leadership over one another?  On a scale from 1 – 10, how well do you demonstrate Christ’s gentleness and meekness in leading others?
2. What will you work on this week that demonstrates your interest in building people up and not pulling them down?

As I reflect on how to lead as a pastor, I thank God for the insights and convictions from the Retreat on how to build brothers and sisters up in loving Jesus Christ.  The "normal" way for making disciples is to lead with gentleness and meekness.  Being meek, I am to be God fearing, humble, teachable, patient, submissive to Jesus...)  Coming up, I am led to care and reach out to many young people personally and individually over the next couple of weeks.  I am reminded that I am to engage brothers and sisters with gentleness and meekness.  

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Aug 13

¹⁴Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
¹⁷“Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”
¹⁸“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

REFLECTION

1. Christians are to be completely separated unto the Lord, with that separation as sharp as the dividing line between light and darkness, between Christ and Satan, and between the temple of God and a shrine where idols are worshiped.  In short, we are to “purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.” (7:1) God is our Father, but when we sin, sin’s contamination separates us from God.  Similarly, when sin comes into a relationship between two people, it’ll be felt like a grain of sand entering into the eye, the relationship will be affected.  So, the issue isn’t whether we could have intimate relationship with non-Christians, rather, if we want to maintain this close relationship with God the Father.  Our loving father is calling us: “I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters.”  How do you respond?
2. Imagine you are taking a walk with the Lord in the garden.  Listen to God telling you, “I will be your father, and you shall be my son/daughter.” What would you say to him right now?  The Lord is listening.  Speak to him slowly and listen to his fatherly talking, too.