Tag: Galatians

14th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Galatians 6.14-18 NLT – transformed

Morning Reading: Galatians 6:14-18 NLT

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As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.

It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.

May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.

Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Fill me with your gracious Spirit. Keep my focus on you… on your cross. And change me from the inside out… to become more like you. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “From the inside Out” –Hillsong
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13th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Galatians 5.1, 13-18 NLT – free to serve

Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-18 NLT

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So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Reign in me… win the war between my sinful nature and my new nature given to me by Christ Jesus. Make my good intentions a reality… and bring forth your good fruit in me – love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness and self control – that I might honor you in all things. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Break every chain” – Jesus Culture
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12th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Galatians 3.26-29 NLT – heirs of God

Reading: Galatians 3:26-29 NLT

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

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There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Soften the hearts of your children towards one another. May all who have been united with you in baptism, be united with one another in spirit… respecting our differences, yet encouraging one another as children and heirs of God. For your name’s sake I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: Make Us One – Cindy Morgan

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Galatians 1.11-19 ESV – direct revelation

Reading: Galatians 1:11-19 ESV

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.  For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

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The Conversion of St. Paul, 1767
by Nicolas-Bernard Lepicie

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;  nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the wisdom to think before I speak… to study before I teach…. to be quiet long enough to hear you. Knock me off my “high horse”… if that’s what it takes to get my attention. And reveal your words of mercy, grace and healing to me… and through me. To God be the glory. Amen.

Hymn: “To God be the Glory” – Fanny J. Crosby (1875)