Posts with the category “reach-gather-grow-in-galatians”

It’s All For HimJames Mann“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” Galatians 6:14-15As a children’s director, one of my favorite things to do is to listen to the conversations that children have. There is a batt...  Read More

Doing GoodAngela Cox“So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).” Galatians 6:10 AMPWhat does it mean to do good as a believer? Many times, we look at that as giving to t...  Read More

Chinese Bamboo TreeDr. Randy T. Johnson“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9I enjoy the story of two frogs that fell into a tub of cream. One looked at the high sides of the tub which were too difficult to crawl over and said, “It is hopeless.” He gave up and sunk to the bottom of the container. The other one refused to give ...  Read More

Sowing and ReapingJustin Dean“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8We have all heard the typical, “It’s not you, it’s me” breakup line. More times than not we know that what they are re...  Read More

I Can Carry YouJeannie Yates“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Galatians 6:2-3There are two ways to bring in the groceries: taking several trips or the right way, taking all the bags at once. Raise your hand if you are an all-the-bags-in-one-trip person! When my husband and I were first marr...  Read More

Restore the CaughtPhilip Piasecki“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” Galatians 6:1My wife absolutely loves her Air Pods. She uses them when she is working out, when she is cleaning, and when she is sleeping. Occasionally they would go missing, but luckily they woul...  Read More

Fruit of the FleshPastor Josh Yates“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21Today, we start a...  Read More

Stepping With the SpiritPastor Josh Yates“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18I lo...  Read More

Raised with Him Through FaithSydney Kimball“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20When you tell others that you are a Christian, you are not only saying you identify with the family of God, but you are also saying you shar...  Read More

The Father’s ReactionJohn Stone“Nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified. But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners,...  Read More

Everyone Has a Story That Needs to be ToldJohn Rigg“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20In 2017, after a few years of battling Alzheimer’s disease, my father passed from this life to the next, two months shy of his 89th ...  Read More

What is Love?William Kinney“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 1:14We all desire love in all sorts of ways. Some are good, and some are bad. However, how do we define love? The world defines love as a feeling that can be gained or lost dependent on particular situations. They expect to love only when love is reciprocated. I sure am gl...  Read More

Danger of BitingPatrick Bicknell“But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” Galatians 5:15In Galatians 5:15, Paul uses a very strong description of believers who do not love others as themselves. He describes them as wild animals, those that bite and devour one another. In this verse, he is wrapping up a section talking about the liberty that we re...  Read More

Nobody Wins in a Bite-fightSierra Combs“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” Galatians 5:14-15After 12 years of parenting two very easy-going, well-behaved, calm, and mild children, everything changed. God gave us a third. We named her Clementine, which me...  Read More

Serving FaithfullyDebbie Gabbara“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13 (NIV)Long before the gatherings begin on Sunday morning, volunteers and staff arrive at the River locations. Lights and sound equipment are turned on, people arrive with instruments, and others warm up the...  Read More

Love for RealJosh Thayer“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” Galatians 5:13-15 You do not often think about it beca...  Read More

Basin TheologyKeaton Washburn“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13If you read these devotions in order, you are most likely reading this before you head to Sunday gatherings or the day after gatherings, Monday. For me, being a social introvert, gatherings are one of my favorite da...  Read More

ApprovalJill Osmon“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.” Galatians 1:10Approval, we all seek it. Some of us find it in our families, some in our work, others in relationships, and I think most of us try to find it in the world in general. Yet it remains elusive to so many of us, ...  Read More

A Dangerous GospelPastor Noble Baird“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. 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.” Galatians 1:8-9The sad reality about the world we live in today is the distortion and deceit t...  Read More

The LinePeter Mason“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 - not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-7Every year the MLB releases amended rules for the upcoming baseball season. This past April, teams were allowed to increase ...  Read More

A Price PaidMitchell Holmes“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” Galatians 1:3-4It is so easy to forget things. I am a forgetful person. My wallet, keys, sunglasses, you name it, I have forgotten it. Now I know some of you reading this are far more o...  Read More

Grace & PeaceFerdinand Sanders“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:3When was the last time you wrote someone a handwritten letter? Outside of the occasional note to my wife (I promise it happened at least once in the past year), I really cannot remember the last time I penned a letter to anyone. Now, when was the last time you received a handwritten l...  Read More

PelotonCaleb Jones“Paul, an apostle - not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead - and all the brothers who are with me.” Galatians 1:1-2This past year, my wife and I bought a Peloton bike. Now if you do not know anything about Peloton, I will give a glimpse into what it is. Peloton is a stationary exercise bike that has a display and ho...  Read More