Author Archives: gonelikeashadowatevening

Affliction, Attacks, Battles, Bible, Challenging, Consequences, Enslavement, Following, God's Will, Healing, Markers, Scars, Wounds

THE MARKS OF JESUS

GALATIANS 6:17

“From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”

I’ve got several scars on my body. I can tell you all about them. Cut knee when I was just a boy. Pencil point in my palm, cancer surgery on my chest. Should I go on? I am sure you have your own scars and your own stories. Today, as Paul comes to the next to the last verse of his letter to the Galatians, he reminds them once again of his legitimacy as an apostle of Christ.

Paul had obviously been given trouble by these Judaizers who were trying to undermine what he had taught. They were constantly questioning his right to even teach. But he reminds them all that he had paid the price. We know of Paul’s beatings by rods. We remember how he was stoned. Paul had his share of scars and his own stories for each one. They were all for the cause of Christ, and he bore them proudly.

APPLICATION

What scars do you have in your journey to follow Jesus? You may have some emotional scars? You may have been beaten for your faith. The Greek word for “marks” is stigmata. It is only used right here in the New Testament. It literally means the brand a slave had burned upon him to show his master’s ownership. It also referred to the brands inflicted on those who were committed to serve in a pagan temple. Paul had his marks, as I mentioned above, which showed his loyalty to Jesus.

I am writing this blog on Memorial Day, a holiday we keep in the U.S. to remember those who have given their life in service to our country. They bore the ultimate sacrifice. They were mortally wounded. Their scars cost them their lives. There are people all over this world today who have given their lives for the cause of Christ. Just this week an American couple was killed in Haiti. They were missionaries who were killed by gang members. They entered heaven bearing the marks of Christ.

Reread the crucifixion verses and see the marks Jesus received. He was scourged, beaten, nailed to a cross, speared in His side. We may never receive those kinds of marks, but we will have marks. Wear your marks proudly. When people see you, let them be reminded of your loyalty to your master.

I thank You, Lord, for allowing me to be scarred for Your sake.

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Accountability, Bible, Choices, Circumcision, Commands, Disciples, Following, God's Will, Heart, Holiness, Law, Scripture

FOLLOW THE RULE

GALATIANS 6:16

“And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”

Are you a rule follower? I guess I am for the most part. I have to admit, I don’t always drive the speed limit. Other than that, I guess I follow the rules of law in our country. I pay my taxes. I don’t commit any crimes. I am just so glad I don’t have to worry about following a long list of rules set down by God. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do follow His commands set forth in Scripture as best I can. But I am free in Christ.

So, what is Paul talking about here – “all who will follow this rule”? What rule? The Greek word translated as “rule” is kanon, which means a measuring rod, usually a cane or reed used as a standard of measure. Paul expected believers to keep themselves holy. That was the measuring rod. It wasn’t about keeping the law. It was about obeying God. What is God’s standard? Holiness. Paul says when we do that, we will have peace and mercy and prove ourselves as the true Israel of God.

APPLICATION

Psalm 51:16-17 gives us a clear picture of what God expects of us. “16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.” This is the “rule” Paul is referring to. God isn’t concerned with gathering a bunch of rule followers. He wants sincere followers of Christ.

Paul probably had the words of Jeremiah ringing through his mind as he talked about circumcision and rules. Jeremiah 4:4 says, “‘Circumcise yourselves to the LORD and remove the foreskins of your hearts, men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,’” It wasn’t about the physical. It was all about the spiritual. Our hearts need to bear the mark of Jesus. We don’t need to bear a physical mark on our bodies.

So, let me ask you again, are you a rule follower? I pray you are. I pray you are following the rule set forth by God. Turn to His Son, Jesus, and let Him give you a new heart. If you have done that, then walk in Him. Surrender your heart to Him afresh each and every day. Amen? Amen!

Lord, I am thankful I have been considered worthy to be one of Your followers because of Jesus.

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Bible, Creation, Eternal Life, God's Will, Indwelling, Redemption, Scripture

A NEW CREATION

GALATIANS 6:15

“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”

Man can’t create a thing. We can make stuff from stuff, but we can’t create a single thing. We grow stuff in labs. We plant seeds and watch them grow. We paint art. All of these can display our creative nature. But we, as mere humans, do not have the capability to create anything.

In these last few verses of this letter to the Galatians, Paul begins to wrap it up. In fact, this is the last verse which is addressing the main issue raised by the Judaizers – circumcision. The remaining three verses are his closing remarks. I love how Paul finishes his diatribe on circumcision. He negates it. The key is that we are born again – created again – through Jesus. That’s the real mark of a believer, not a fleshly sign. It’s internal. It’s a circumcision of the heart.

APPLICATION

There are so many verses we could look at concerning our new creation in Christ, but one is probably the most recognized. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” The word for “creation” here and in today’s verse are the same. It’s the Greek word ktisis, which always refers to a divine work. God does this creating, not man.

In Mark 10:6 we read these words of Christ, “‘But from the beginning of creation, God CREATED THEM MALE AND FEMALE.’” Just as God created Adam and Eve in the garden, along with all our nature, He has recreated us in the image of Christ. We have a brand new life.

Let me show you one more verse – Ephesians 2:10. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Do you see it now? If you are in Christ, you are brand new. Your old self is gone, dead, crucified, buried. You are a new creation in Jesus. New babies need their parents. You, as a new creation, need your Heavenly Father. Lean on Him. He can lead you in the right path.

Thank You, Father, for giving me a new life in Christ.

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Bible, Boasting, Cross, Glorify, Glory, Mediator, Payment, Redemption, Sacrifice, Salvation, Scripture

GLORY IN THE CROSS

GALATIANS 6:14

“But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

The title for today’s blog confuses the lost world. How can we glory in such a cruel death? The following link gives you a pretty good description of the Roman cross. It was an awful way to die.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/crucifixion-capital-punishment

But we believers understand it is more than just the way Jesus died. It was that He died for us.

Paul had plenty to boast about. In fact, he lists those things in Philippians 3:4-6. “4 If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.” But he knew the only thing worthy of boasting about was the Lord Jesus.

APPLICATION

I was thinking what to write here today, but I can’t say it any better than Albert Barnes. Read what he said about this boasting in the cross.

“But to the Christian, that cross is the subject of glorying. It is so because:

  1. Of the love of Him who suffered there;
  2. Of the purity and holiness of His character, for the innocent died there for the guilty;
  3. Of the honor there put on the Law of God by His dying to maintain it unsullied;
  4. Of the reconciliation there made for sin, accomplishing what could be done by no other oblation, and by no power of man;
  5. Of the pardon there procured for the guilty;
  6. Of the fact that through it we become dead to the world, and are made alive to God;
  7. Of the support and consolation which goes from that cross to sustain us in trial; and,
  8. Of the fact that it procured for us admission into heaven, a title to the world of glory. All is glory around the cross.”

What else can you say? That pretty much sums it up. So today, glory in the cross of your Lord. Praise Him for what He did and continues to do for you. Give Him the honor and glory He is due.

O God, my Father, I give You praise and thank You for the cross. That sounds strange, but I know Jesus died on that cross for me and for everyone else in the world.

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Accountability, Allegiance, Belief, Bible, Commands, God's Will, Hypocrisy, Judgment, Obedience, Sacrifice, Scripture

HYPOCRITES

GALATIANS 6:13

“For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.”

Do as I say and not as I do. You’ve heard that before, I am sure. A lot of parents may not say those words to their children, but they sure live them out. “Don’t smoke!” But they light one up regularly. “Don’t drink!” But they don’t have a problem popping a cool one. “Don’t cuss!” But they let a few words slide out when they are upset. It’s easy to give directions if you aren’t holding yourself to the same standard.

Paul continues to confront the Judaizers who were trying to force the Galatians to follow the Mosaic Law in addition to accepting Jesus as Savior. As a former Pharisee, Paul knew all too well the debilitating consequences of trying to follow the law. You couldn’t pick and choose which parts of the law you wanted to follow. It was all or nothing. Fortunately, the Galatian believers needed none of it. Paul wants to make sure they know that.

APPLICATION

James said it best, I think, when he said this in James 2:10. “For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all.” There you have it. You can’t say, “Get circumcised,” and not keep the rest of the law. These Judaizers were forcing the issue of circumcision without they themselves keeping the whole law. They were, in fact, guilty of breaking the whole law. It was a futile exercise.

Don’t get me wrong. The law served its purpose. It pointed out to men the impossibility of keeping it. We needed something more. We needed the perfect sacrifice to end all sacrifices. Jesus provided that. Hebrews 10:14 says, “For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hallelujah, praise the Lord!

Paul was not letting the Galatians off the hook with this statement in today’s verse. They still needed to follow the Lord’s commands. They should still strive to be holy as He is holy. But now all those things are under the blood of the Lamb. He has paid the price for our failings. We obey out of love, not fear.

O Lord, help me be an example of truth and honesty, not hypocrisy.

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Attention, Attitude, Bible, Boasting, Decisions, Humility, Influence, Pride, Scripture

SHOW OFF

GALATIANS 6:12

“All who want to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.”

Some people are all show. They want everyone to see them and what they have accomplished. I love the verse that our ministry has adopted, Isaiah 26:12. “Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.” The last phrase is what we claim. It’s all Him, not us. We have nothing to brag or boast about.

Paul pointed out in this verse today that those who were trying to compel the Galatians to get circumcised only cared about themselves. They were trying to appease the Jewish leaders with their Mosaic Law following. It wasn’t about Jesus. It was about what they could do, even to their flesh, to appear more spiritual or to be a more sincere follower.

APPLICATION

What kind of “showing” are you making? Is it all about you or is it about Jesus? We should echo the words of John the Baptist. “‘He must become greater; I must become less.’” John knew he was just the forerunner of Christ. He was there to proclaim the message God had given him. He wasn’t “The Man.” Too many people today think they are.

Remember this story from Acts 8? “9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, ‘This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.’” We know what happened to him, don’t we? Are you sure? He got saved through the preaching of Philip, but he still struggled with this desire to be “The Man.”

Later in the chapter, he is confronted by Peter because Simon offered to buy the power to lay hands on people which he had seen done by the apostles. He still hungered for the attention he had earlier. Thankfully, after Peter rebuked him, he repented. As far as we know, we will get to meet Simon in heaven and ask him more about his life. What will your story be? Will it be about yourself or about Jesus? I can’t wait to see.

Hide me behind the cross daily, Lord. Let others see Jesus and not me. 

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Authentic, Bible, Commands, Deception, Disciples, Following, Love, Scripture, Trustworthy, Truth

AUTHENTICITY

GALATIANS 6:11

“See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!”

Call me a little crazy, but the first thing I thought of when I read this verse was the story of “Little Red Riding Hood.” You know, when Little Red Riding Hood remarked at what large ears, eyes, hands and mouth the wolf had. They looked very different than her grandmother’s, so Little Red Riding Hood noticed. Some things are just obvious.

Paul wanted to make sure the Galatians knew he had written this letter and not someone else. Scholars vary on why Paul wrote these words. Some say it was because he had bad eyesight, so he had to write large. Others say it was because he had difficulty writing the Greek letters. Still others say he was referring to the length of the letter. For whatever reason, this marked this letter as being authentic.

APPLICATION

I have a signed poster from Herschel Walker, the great running back of the 80’s at the University of Georgia. Someone told me I should get it authenticated. There are people out there who do that. We have someone in our lives, as believers, who authenticates us. In John 15:8, Jesus tells us if we are producing fruit we will be proven disciples. “‘My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.’” The Greek word translated as “prove to be” means to come into existence. We are authenticated as we come into existence, as we prove to be His disciples.

We are also authenticated by our love. In 1 John 4:8 we are told, “The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” How many people do you know who say they love God but hate people. They hold grudges against people. They refuse to forgive people. God’s Word says clearly that our love for others is a sure sign of being His. It authenticates us.

Keeping God’s commandments also shows the world we are authentic believers. Also in 1 John, we find this in chapter 3 and verse 24, “The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” So, the question is “Are you authentic?” Are you who you say you are?

Father, I want all who see me see me as an authentic follower of Christ.

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Bible, Compassion, Encouragement, Family, God's Will, Goodness, Kingdom, Love, Scripture

HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH 

GALATIANS 6:10 

“So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” 

As a man, I am supposed to take care of my household. The Bible tells us that to not do that makes us worse than an unbeliever. But so many men neglect their families in so many ways. Oh, they may provide for them financially and physically, but they neglect the spiritual health of the wife and children.  

I believe Paul includes that in his encouragement to the Galatians in today’s verse. He says to do good to all people, “and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” You see, Paul goes beyond just the man’s household. He includes the household of the faith. We should especially do good to our fellow believers. We are in the same family – God’s family.  

APPLICATION 

Let me speak to the men right now. Men, you have a responsibility to care for your family. You also have a responsibility to aid those in your church or fellowship who have a need. Is there a widow who needs her yard mowed? Is there a single mom who needs some men to do some home repairs? I can’t help but think about James 1:27. “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” 

In Ephesians 2:19, Paul says we believers are all part of God’s household. That word has the idea of an intimate relationship. If that is true, why wouldn’t we watch out for each other? Why wouldn’t we come to the aid of a brother or sister? Why wouldn’t we give to them freely and without expectation of repayment? 

Now, wait a minute, Carl. You’re getting a little carried away. Really. Let me challenge you to look around and do as the Lord leads you. Ask your pastor if there is a family in the church who has a need. Volunteer to help. He will be so excited to put you to work serving those who have needs. We can do this now. Don’t wait! 

Father, show me who You want me to invest in. I know there are many. 

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Bible, Blessing, Goodness, Gospel, Humility, Kindness, Love, Scripture, Service

JUST DO GOOD 

GALATIANS 6:9 

“Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.” 

I enjoy doing good. Don’t you? I mean, I really enjoy watching the reaction of people when I get the chance to do something good. Maybe it’s an unexpected, extra tip to a waitress. It could be secretly paying someone’s utility bill when you know they are struggling. We should never tire of doing those things when we have the opportunity. 

Why does Paul bring this up in today’s verse? He has just finished talking about reaping and sowing, flesh and spirit. He needs to remind the Galatians that doing good is admirable and is definitely Spirit driven, not flesh driven. He also knows that doing good, especially towards the unbelievers in their midst, could open doors for evangelism and the spread of the Gospel. 

APPLICATION 

Paul says over in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” In other words, don’t quit. Don’t give in. God’s work is never done. There is plenty to do. 

Paul even tells us there is a promise if we don’t give up. We will “reap, if we don’t grow weary.” Over in Colossians 3:23-24, Paul says, “23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” 

What work are you doing right now? What good? Don’t stop. You may never hear a thank you from the person you are helping. It’s not about them. It’s all about being obedient to the Lord when He tells you to do something. That’s where you will receive the reward from one day. Don’t grow weary. 

Father God, give me the strength to serve others as You direct. 

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Bible, Choices, Destruction, Eternal Life, Harvest, Reaping, Scripture, Sowing

REAPING AND SOWING 

GALATIANS 6:8 

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” 

In the past, I have really enjoyed gardening. I have mentioned this before in my blogs. But it’s that time again in the South, so it’s been on my mind a lot. I have been contemplating building some raised beds to go along my backyard fence where I could plant some vegetables. I really enjoy the process of preparing the soil, planting the seed or plants, watching them grow and then reaping the harvest. I can always bet on the fact that I will reap exactly what I sowed. 

In today’s verse, Paul is continuing his thought on reaping and sowing. He is pointing out to the Galatians that there are consequences for our actions. Those who seek to please their flesh will one day reap destruction. They will not experience the peace that comes through knowing Christ. But those who run after the Spirit, who sow seeds to please the Spirit will reap that promise of eternal life. What a promise! 

APPLICATION 

We all know Romans 6:23, right? “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Don’t you get that? It’s free! All we have to do is accept it. Who wouldn’t want that? How about the words of Christ in John 5:24? “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.’” 

Or we can choose to live our lives our own way and ignore all the warning signs. We can choose to live for the moment. There’s a popular billboard out right now. It says, “Live Your Truth.” What hogwash! There is only one truth. What we think about our truth does not matter. That will only lead you to destruction. That is sowing to please the flesh. 

What will you do today? Are you going to sow to the flesh or to the Spirit? Do you want destruction or eternal life? I know what I want. I want to spend eternity with the King of kings and Lord of lords. I want to glorify His name forever. Will you join me? 

Father, You are the reason I have chosen Jesus. You drew me to Yourself. 

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