KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, November 26, 2016
Chapters: Galatians 4-6
Message: The Law Of Christ
Hello My Friend,
I have a habit of observing people, I do not like to be in the limelight, so instead I sit back and watch. I come to realize that everyone has their own way of living for Christ, some follow the Bible, just do what they want, and some just go overboard with rules and regulations too hard for anyone to follow. So, what is the real way to life for Christ? Walking in His Spirit (the Holy Spirit, that is if you are saved). “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” – Galatians 5:16-18.
The lusts of the flesh, they do not even have to be sinful things, but they become sin when they become more of what we desire from our flesh. Food, it sustains us, but it can hurt us if we become gluttonous. Let me tell you, being saved is not a free ticket to gorge on the lusts of the flesh, while we are not under the law of works we still ought to be living our lives doing things that please God. When Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians it was a time when they had gotten away from the simplicity of the Gospel, he reminds them that he only spoke to them about Christ, not the law, but if they were living for Christ they would not feel they were being charged under the law (the Levitical law).
“Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.” – Galatians 4:13-20.
“But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing,” As Christians we are to live as Christ all the time, not just during certain times of the year or in the presence of others. The things we go through, good or bad, help us grow and conform to the image if Christ. Are we going to even be perfect like Christ? No, not until we get to heaven anyway. However, the closer we get to Him the more like Him we become. We must not confuse living as Christ would for being under the law. How sad is it that we allow ourselves to be diverted from the simplicity of the Gospel, these are the things that bring us into bondage. If we stop trying to fulfill the lusts of our flesh and seek to have Christ within, He will become the energy and passion of a new life. Each time we yield to the prompting of His Spirit, there is less of us and more of Him. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” -Romans 12:1-2.
I swear, as I am reading the chapters for the day my head is full of things that the Spirit speaks to me about, but the second I start to write the message in my mind goes blank. There are days that I have walked away from my computer just for a breather only to find myself trying to piece something together at the last minute. It is the devil that tries to get us away from doing God’s work to please our flesh, even if we only need to lay our head down for a few minutes. Paul stresses the importance of not using our liberty to serve the flesh.
“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:7-13.
“who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” This goes back to what I was saying earlier, people have their own idea of the way we all should be living, but the truth is, we are to be living as God would have us live, not man. Let me tell you, if we are not careful we are the ones who end up hindering ourselves because we put ourselves under the law when we try to be everything everyone else expects us to be. It is okay to be there for people, to encourage them, instruct them in the things of God, it is not okay to put us or anyone else under the law. Paul explains this further.
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” – Galatians 6:1-6.
“For if a man think himself to be something,” This just means we are all under the same law, the law of Christ. We are no better than any other born again Christian, and there is no one better than we are. We need to worry about ourselves, examine ourselves and get ourselves the way God wants us to be. Of course, we are instructed to be lights of Christ and to help others grow in Christ, but must focus on ourselves and make sure we are doing what God wants, not mad. We also must not place burdens or enforce rules that go against the simplicity of the Gospel on others when it is impossible to do them ourselves.
“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” – Galatians 6:12-15.
“that they may glory in your flesh.” We are not here to please man, we are here to please God, He will direct us in the way we should go as we walk with Christ. Which brings to mind a song, “And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.” There is no joy that the world can obtain better than what we get by walking with Jesus. Just knowing He is with us every step of the way is all the hope we need in this life. Christ set you free when He died on the cross for you, if you believe that then there is hope for you to get out of any situation you are in. He can bring you out of captivity, however, you must let Him help you. Put your trust in Jesus and He will set you free, He is there for you. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Magnified: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” – Galatians 4:4-5.
Today’s Prayer: God, thank You for setting me free from the bondage of sin and the elements of the world when I came to You and trusted Your Son as my Savior. Lord, the burden I am carrying is too much for me to handle, I have tried so long to handle it in my own way, but I keep failing. I need You, Lord. Take the weight of my burdens off me, give me the peace I know only comes from You. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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