Galatians 2:1-2

Bible Passage

Christ does give each of his followers a distinctive calling (purpose). But we must remember that he gives it to us within the larger context of the church – the family of God – that we belong to. In God’s scheme of things each has a relevance to the other: the personal to the corporate (church family), and vice versa. What God is doing in/through our personal lives is related to (though not dictated by) what he is doing in/through the church, and the reverse is true as well. That is the reason why Paul goes to Jerusalem along with his companions to share his unique calling that he received from God which was to share the gospel with non-Jews, however radical might seem to their ears!

How does your own God-given purpose relate to what God is doing in/through your church (faith-family)? How does what God want to do in/through your church relate to what he is doing in your personal life?

Prayer

Forgive me Lord when I am so individualistic sometimes in my relationship with you. I sometimes don’t take the trouble to discover how what you want to do in my life can actually bring your change to my larger faith family as well. And I am sometimes insensitive to your working through my church that can also bring clarity to my own personal life and purpose. I’m all eyes and ears Lord! Help me sensitive to both. I humble myself to see, to hear, to grow. Amen.

Song: Humble Yourself (Maranatha Singers)

Listen Now

Galatians 2:9-10

Prayer

Galatians 2:6-8

Bible Passage

Surprise! God shows no favoritism – in his choice of people that he calls to serve him, in his choice of recipients of his message and love, in his choice of who he wishes to empower with his Holy Spirit. We must never put “God in a box” as to who he wants to reach/touch with his love, and who he will empower to make that happen. The original disciples realized this with God’s choosing of Paul to be his messenger to the non-Jews.

When were you surprised by the way God worked – his method and choice of instrument? How did that change your understanding of him? How has God led you to serve him along with people that you may not have been comfortable with (at least at first)?

Prayer: Lord help me to be faithful to what you have called me to do, and not be critical of others you have called that do things differently. Teach me learn from them the wonderful and different ways that you have worked in their lives and thereby grow in my understanding of you. And them. I realize that it is only when you empower us that we can be effective at all. I want with all my heart to be productive for your Kingdom Lord Jesus, even if it means setting aside my own prejudices and biases for your sake. Amen.

Listen Now

Galatians 2:3-5

Bible Passage

It is great to have a mentor – a “coach,” someone who accompanies you through new and stressful situations, who doesn’t allow the wrong kind of people to shake your new-found faith. Because that was what Paul the Jew was to Titus the Greek convert. He wouldn’t allow “grace-killers” (people who made rule-following more important than living as those forgiven by Jesus’ underserved love) force their brand of legalism on someone brand new to the faith. When we move our attention from what Jesus did for us to religious practices we humans are used to doing, we undermine the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. We also endanger the freedom that that gospel has given us.

Who has been your mentor/defender, especially in your early faith-life? Who have you been a mentor/defender to? In what ways have you remained faithful to the “truth of the gospel”?

Prayer

Thank you Gracious God for the mentors in my life that have protected me from “grace-killers” and helped me keep my eyes on you alone. I love my own religious practices of worship, study, Holy Communion, but only because those practices draw me closer to you. However may they never replace the love that you first showed me when you came into my life – a love and freedom that keeps growing me as your child and in your service. Amen.

Song: Be My Defender (Jordan St. Cyr)

Listen Here

Galatians 1:21-24

Bible Passage

It was the early part of Paul’s ministry, before he started planting churches, writing letters. It was a time when what he was doing was almost unbelievable to those early Christians. How could someone change so drastically? But it seemed that Paul began preaching with as much zeal for the gospel, as he used to work against it before (though maybe more “for”!) Two things were for sure: one, people noticed the obvious change and two, they ended up glorifying God because of the change only he (God) could have brought about.

Who in your life is the example of that unbelievable change that God brings about? How much are you the cause of other people’s praise to God?

Prayer

I am so grateful O Jesus that you can and do change people so completely. That gives me hope for people that I know and love – even in my family – that need your transformation. Maybe even me. I will trust that you will do so, and I will keep praying for it, and even be your instrument if you need me for it to happen. And may it be O Christ that maybe I too will be some people’s reason to praise and glorify you. Amen.

Song: Never Too Far Gone (Jordan Feliz)

Listen Now

Galatians 1:16-20

Bible Passage

Our natural reaction when something suddenly happens to us to turn our entire world upside down is to go to someone trustworthy, someone who will understand our unbelievable situation. So it would have been logical for Paul to go immediately after his exciting, dramatic Acts 9 conversion and meet with the disciples – Peter, John and the others. Yet he did not, and instead went to Arabia, into a wilderness. We don’t know how long he was there except that it was three years before he finally went to Jerusalem to meet with the disciples. (While Luke doesn’t mention this, this is what could have happened between Acts 9:25 and Acts 9:26.) Sometimes when God works in such a significant manner in our lives we too need to turn away from our natural inclination of consulting people, and spend time alone with him for the Spirit to minister to us.

How do you naturally react when God has worked in a significant way in your life? When is the last time that after something tumultuous happening in your life you have gone alone to spend time with God? What were its results?

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the many times that you have worked in significant ways in my life. As I remember those times I realize that I may have excitedly told others about them, and even thanked and worshiped you for them. But I may have lost the opportunity of discovering their deeper significance you had for me in them because I didn’t stick around long enough with you for you to tell me. And now they are lost in time. Or are they Lord? Can you please remind me of those special times and their true significance that I may have missed? Maybe when I remember I will (re)discover my calling. Thank you my Savior. Amen.

Song: Remember (Lauren Daigle)

Listen Now

By Rev. Sunil Balasundaram

Saturday, Galatians 1:15-16

Bible Passage

“But God had set me apart from birth and called me through his grace.” V.15 is a “Wow” verse. Paul knew how much he had hurt people, and thereby hurt God. Yet he was convinced that that didn’t make God love him any less. Because God knew Paul far before that – from the time he was born – much, much before he could grieve the heart of God. And that’s the beauty of grace – God’s unconditional, undeserved love – even though God knows how broken we will be in the future, he knows the extent we will break his heart, he still dares to love us and choose us for himself even as just born babies. Think about it. Again and again!

When did you realize that you were deeply loved, not because of what you did or did not do, but because God created you, and go to the extent of dying for you?

Prayer

I have no words Lord but Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. May I always remember that your love has everything to do with who you are, because “God is love” (1 John 4:16), and Whose I am. Amen.

Song: “Reckless Love” (Cory Asbury)

Listen Now

By Rev. Sunil Balasundaram

Friday, Galatians 1:13-15

Bible Passage

It is interesting that some things we once thought of as proud achievements become occasions of embarrassment and even regret later on. For Paul it was his religious zeal in Judaism that translated into violence against the infant Christian church (he would have more to say about that in Philippians 3:4-6). What changed? Those past deeds did/could not. It was Paul who changed; v.15 has two words that made the world of difference: “But God…” Whatever else your past may be, when God steps in, it makes all the difference from that point on!

Are there things in your past that you were once proud of, but now see in a completely new (not so positive) light? What changed your thinking? How has your “But God…” experience been?

Prayer: All-knowing, all-seeing God: you know everything from my past. As I remember my past I see times when I thought I was following you, I was sincere and even zealous. I now realize that those times I once was so proud about were actually self-serving – I was pleasing myself, not you. I am especially saddened now when I think of how I pleased myself at the expense of others – not realizing the pain caused to people that I love, and many I did not know. But I am so very grateful that you stepped in and changed all of that. Thank you for making the difference of what I was before and who I am now. Amen

Listen Now

By Rev. Sunil Balasundaram

Thursday, Galatians 1:10-12

Bible Passage

It is dangerous when the primary motivation for doing anything is so that people will like us – we become “people-pleasers.” Paul was intentional in keeping Jesus as central in his life, relying on what he (Jesus) revealed to him, and what pleased him. He refused to become enslaved to other people’s opinions and whims not only because they contradicted what pleased God, but also because he considered Jesus as his Master, not public opinion. And the good-news-of-Jesus revelation to him filled him with conviction of Who he belonged to!

Where and how do you draw the line between being agreeable (“winsome”) and not becoming a “people-pleaser”? Why was it so important for Paul to state that his gospel was revealed by Jesus himself (and not any other human)? What does it mean to be “Christ’s slave” (that is the original Greek word)?

Prayer

I love you Lord Jesus, and I want to do what you tell me. But sometimes I am swept away by what others think of me, and I am tempted to please them instead of you. I unconsciously make public opinion my master, not you. Forgive me Lord. Speak to me through your Word because I want to hear your voice over the distracting, enticing voices all around me. I want to live and preach your good news, and you alone. Amen.

Song: “God-pleaser” (Petra)

Listen Now