Bible Truth Daily Devotion

September 2, 2010

Justification

Filed under: Devotion in Romans — Tags: , , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 1:00 am

Romans 3:27-31

 

 

Let’s reflect on some important questions before we dive into this passage. 

  1. What is justification? (v. 28)
  2. Who needs the free gift of God?  Is it the Jews, gentiles, or everyone? (v. 29)
  3. Is the Old Testament abolished because of the work of Jesus Christ? (v. 31)

 

Commentary:

Romans 3:27.  The word boasting may appear to be out of place in the discussion of redemption and propitiation set forth.  But Paul is actually about to pick up the discussion of Jewish confidence in the Law again.  The word “boast” was last mentioned in 2:17 and 2:23.  In those verses, Jews boasted in the Law and in God.  In contrast to the boasting of the Jews in doing works, believers of Jesus Christ have not any ground for boasting.  Since salvation is by grace through faith, the right into heaven is a gift.  Paul concludes that boasting of work is excluded in the law of faith. 

Romans 3:28. The word justified appears in 2:13, 3:4, 20, 24, and here in 28.  There are two ways to be justified.  In 2:13, Paul established the first way that man can be justified by keeping the Law.  Yet in 3:20, he repudiates that notion because no one can keep the whole Law.  In 3:4, God is justified because He kept his words.  In 3:24, the second way of justification is through the gift from God. 

Is justification earned by work or received freely?  The word “justified” is δικαιόω; it means to pronounce righteous, to validate, or to establish as right.  It is a term used in the court of law and is often associated with the last judgment at the great white throne.  Justification at the last judgment can never possibly be earned.  So justification is pronounced or inferred upon a person because of his/her faith.  Justification is a future event that has a present effect on believers. 

Romans 3:29-30.  There is only one God.  God is not restricted by race, nationality, or ethnicity.  God chose the Jews to reveal Himself, and God calls all men unto Jesus Christ.  Therefore, the gift of God is made available and is received by faith for both Jews and gentiles. 

Romans 3:31.  The Law is not abolished because of the gift of God.  Jesus said that he came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17).  The law is upheld because God has fulfilled it through Jesus Christ dying on the cross.  Likewise, the New Testament (NT) does not abolish the Old Testament (OT) but validates what the OT established.

 

Meditation:

When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are justified. Although we have not done anything that merits God’s favor, our faith in Jesus Christ is our basis for salvation.  By faith, believers know that they will be in heaven; that view has two important implications as listed below:

Work is apart and a product of the saving faith.  No amount of work is needed for salvation either before or after we are saved.  We do not have to do any work to earn our ways into heaven.  In other words, Work does not earn credit for going into heaven.  Salvation is purely a grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  What then is work?  It is a natural response to our new found identity in Christ.  If we work, that will be because we love our Lord.  Work has nothing to do with salvation but with our heart condition.  Hence, a saved person would have the evidence of work because justification changes a person outlook of life and God.   

Boasting of self is never the law of faith.  Boasting that we would be in heaven, however, is never about ourselves.  Salvation is the work of Christ.  We speak about our justification not because our work justified but because Jesus has paid the price.  Hence, we should boast in the glory of the Lord.

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that we were, are and will be justified.  We pray that we live a life consistent with that status and give glory to your name.  For you alone is the God of all men and the God who saves. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

August 10, 2010

The Strength in the Night

Filed under: Devotion in Psalm — Tags: , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 1:00 am

Psalm 59

 

 

The setting of this psalm is when Saul sent messengers to watch David at his house, and his wife, Michal, helped him escape and delayed the man hunt by disguising an idol on David’s bed.  This psalm reflects that urgency of needing God and that trust in God for deliverance. 

 

Commentary:

Psalm 59:1-2. David cried out to God for deliverance.  In this dangerous and urgent situation, David depended on God. 

Psalm 59:3-4.  David declared his innocence in this situation.  Of course, David had transgression and sin, but they were not the reason for this attack.  David was guiltless when it came to Saul’s desire to kill him.

Psalm 59:5. David asked God to awake.  It was not like David thought that God has been sleeping.  But David was employing a language that was likely common at the time. Elijah asked the prophets of Baal if their God was sleeping (1Kings 18:27).  It was David’s urgency that needed God’s quick response. 

David wanted justice not only for himself but for the nation of Israel.  At the time, Israel was still under the threat of surrounding nations.  He wanted God to uphold justice.

Psalm 59:6-8.  The lawless people were ruthless.  David compared them to the dogs at the night.  They were not afraid of anyone and ruled the city.  Little they were aware that God laughed at them.

Psalm 59: 9-10.  The phrase “because of his strength” should read “because of my strength.”  This strength of David is God.  This description echoes the idea that God is his stronghold. 

David was certain that God would meet him and that he would look triumphantly on his foes.  This became truth when David escaped to Samuel, the prophet.  Saul and his men pursued him there.  Upon seeing Samuel, they were overcome by the Spirit and prophesized instead of trying to capture David.  Saul even stripped himself completely.  Saul and his men, the foes of David, were totally powerless in front of God (1Sam 19).

Psalm 59:11-13.  David prayed for a slow destruction of the enemy.  It took twenty years for Saul to crumble.  The slow destruction served as a warning for others who had contempt over God’s anointed. 

Psalm 59:14-17. The anointed of God would find strength in God when there was not any evidence of such.  They would depend on God even when the dark forces reigned.  Their trust was based upon the lovingkindness of God.  God would be the daylight that drives the darkness and the dogs away.

 

Meditation:

Is God your strength in the night?  In your darkest hour, do you know for sure that God would deliver?  In order to answer positively, you need to exercise the faith muscle.  Start by resolving to live for Him.  Depend on the Lord for the small things now.  Then sing praises to God before and after the deliverance. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for listening to our cry of deliverance.  You are our strength in the night and our stronghold in our distress.  We pray that we know you more.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

July 31, 2010

The Life Pursuit

Filed under: Devotion in Psalm — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 12:01 am

Psalm 49

 

 

How much is the price of eternal life?  What is the life pursuit?  The answers to these questions and more are in the psalm. 

 

Commentary:

Psalm 49:1-2.  This is a psalm for all the people in the world.  It uses the merism device to emphasize the inclusiveness of everyone.   No matter if a person has a high or a low social status or if his possession is plenty or little, the psalm addresses every persons in the world.

Psalm 49:3-4. The psalm is a wisdom psalm, meant to teach people.  The psalmist is humble and says that he would attentively listen to wisdom at anytime himself.  He, being a minister of God, would also administer to others with what he received.

Psalm 49:5-6.  No doubt, we all would have days of uncertainty or trials.  At such time, the psalmist encourages us to stay focus on the main thing instead of the world.  The world uses the successes of the wicked as a poster boy; it entices and soothes us to follow the money and the prideful ways of the riches.

Psalm 49:7-10.  Realistically, no amount of money can buy the eternal life.  Heaven is a free gift; it cannot be earned nor is it deserved.  The Bible says that what good is it to a man if he earns the world but loses his life in the process (Matthew 16:26).  Whatever one makes and accumulates will be left behind for others.  Meanwhile, the person without the gift of eternal life will be suffering eternally.

Psalm 49:11-13.  Wisdom is not readily accepted by all though.  The rich and the prosperous would think of this world only.  Their idea of eternity is to leave their names on buildings, bridges, or some history books.  The psalmist reminds everyone that the life of even the strongest and the mightiest among us is a mere breath.  It does not last forever.

Psalm 49:14-15.  The life we know will soon past.  We will face eternity.  We either go to Sheol, a place of suffering, or are delivered by God in eternity.  There are only two consequences after this life. 

Psalm 49:16-20. With eternity firmly understood and planted in our mind, the psalmist encourages us that we should not focus on the riches of the world (v. 16) or the praises or kudos of this life (v. 18).  They are temporary and will pass away in a moment.

 

Meditation:

As the people of God read the psalmist’s words of wisdom, we should affirm our faith in Jesus Christ.  God did not save us from poverty of the world to become rich, although it happens to many Christians out from their new found work ethics from faith.  God did not save us from infamy to become rock stars of Christendom, although many Christians worship those leaders among us.  Instead God merely saves us from the eternal hell fire and gives us the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, His Son.

Let us, therefore, rededicate our vow in faith.  Firstly, we will switch from whatever we rely on for eternal life and depend only on Jesus and His work on the cross for salvation from the consequences of our sin.  Secondly, we avow anew that the resurrected Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of my life.  Thirdly, we let Jesus Christ reign in our life and let Him sit in the throne in our heart.  Lastly, we will repent and renounce sins in our life and follow God and His will. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder of what is most important in this life.  Let us focus on eternity while on earth.  Let us preach the good news of Jesus Christ to people around us.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

July 24, 2010

Overcoming Despair

Filed under: Devotion in Psalm — Tags: , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:00 am

Psalm 42

 

 

Despair can be debilitating.  When people have no hope in a relationship or a situation, they would stop working at it.  What should the people of God do to overcome despair?  This psalm gives us some guideline in going about it. 

 

Commentary:

Psalm 42:1. David was prompted to write this psalm by his circumstance and surrounding.  David was probably in Mount Hermon fighting a war.  Mount Hermon is located north of Jerusalem; the mountain had river stream. 

Verse 1 was a picture of a deer drinking from river.  David was moved to write the psalm because he saw how the deer was attracted by the water and was not deterred even by his presence.  There at that moment, David realized that he too longed for God just as much as the deer thirsted for the water.

Psalm 42:2. David wanted to be before God.  In the context of his days, he was not thinking about having a quiet devotion time, but he was longing to worship God in the temple in Jerusalem (v. 4). 

Psalm 42:3.  Why did David cry?  It was unlikely to be caused the enemies’ taunting.  Rather David was feeling despair because of the lack of the evidence of God’s presence in his current situation.   

Psalm 42:4-6. What did the psalmist do with his despair?  There are three things here that we ought to take notes.  Firstly, he said he called out to God in his situation (v. 6).   Secondly, he remembered the good time that he had in serving God (v. 4).  Lastly, he relied on his faith in God to administer to his soul.  In verse 5, David’s spiritual mind spoke to his emotional soul.  He was determined to trust in God not based on the current circumstances but based on his faith.  God’s provision in the past was the strong indication that God cared about him. 

Psalm 42:10-11. Circumstance might not have changed, but David was determined to hope in the Lord.  He just wanted to give praise to God, for the Lord was his help.

 

Meditation:

Life is a roller coaster.  It has ups and downs.  When we are going down, we can feel like we are never going to go up again.  In times like that, people need to do the three things that David did. 

People need to turn to God.  He is the unfailing strength.  Others may fail, but the Lord can come through.

People need to start counting on the service that they have given in God’s name.  This is not just about performance, but about God remembers what we give in Jesus’ name.  God never forgets our dedication to him.  Our labor in God is never in vain. 

People need to recall the good times God has provided.  Faith is not blind but is built through the encounters of God over the years.  Faith starts when we put our trust in Jesus Christ for our eternal life.  Knowledge that we did not work for our salvation but that we are saved through God’s grace is our assurance that God loves us.  When the Heavenly Father can love us with the life of His Son, there is nothing else that He would withhold for our good.  Faith is then built through the provision that God has given over the year.  Every provision, miracle, and encounter affirm that God cares for us.  With that faith, we can assuredly tell our soul that God will provide.

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that you have given your Son Jesus for our greatest need.  We thank you that you have continually provided for us.  Forgive us for our lack of faith when we become despair.  We pray that we seek after the Holy Spirit and follow the prompting.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

July 18, 2010

The Specific Actions of Faith

Filed under: Devotion in Psalm — Tags: , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:00 am

Psalm 37:1-19

 

 

It is only human to be envious of someone doing well.  But when we realize they who do well amass their fortune through immoral means, we usually have two reactions.  One is condemnation.  The other is the continual craving to be successful like them.  Or we can have a mixture of both reactions; we can be both envious and loathing at the same time.  This psalm is speaking to any of us who are still envious.

 

Commentary:

Psalm 37:2. The California weather is like that in Israel.  The spring rain turns the mountain green.  But in less than four months of time, the grass will die off in the hot summer weather.  The evildoers and wrongdoers also fade quickly like the grass in the summer. 

Psalm 37:3. There are four specific actions that people of God will take to demonstrate their trust in the Lord. 

Psalm 37:4. Delight yourself in the LORD in 21st century has its contemporary meaning.  Delight can mean to be entertained.  We need to rejoice at our thought of God.  Instead of movies or music, we would seek God’s word first.  Instead of watching American Idol, we will go and worship God first. 

Psalm 37:5. We will commit our way to God.  That means our actions are determined by God’s desire.  The desire of God is known through the word of God.  

Psalm 37:7. The practice of rest can be challenging for people accustomed to busy schedule.  But it is an essential practice of trust.  The faith of knowing God as the ultimate provider needs to be enacted out through resting and waiting.  God will accomplish His will in His timing.

Psalm 37:8. Trusting God is the ultimate judge means giving up on the right to avenge.  Along with it, the emotional baggage should be let go as well.  Holding onto unforgiveness leaves foothold for Satan to tempt and to accuse believers. 

Psalm 37:9-19. Believers have to have the eternal view on our outlook.  The evildoers will not triumph at the end.  They will fail because God is against them.  The righteous people will be blessed with inheritance and abundance. 

 

Meditation:

The grass withers, and life is only awhile.  Time is fleeting.  Human ought to make good use of this life to prepare for the eternal. 

Eternal preparation begins with the acceptance of the good news first.  Jesus, the Son of God, had come to die on the cross for our sins.  By believing that He resurrected from death and went to heaven, we can have eternal life, which begins the life of faith.

Faith must be accompanied by actions.  The four specific actions listed in this psalm are steps of faith.  Practice them in our life. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that we see the eternal perspective of life.  We want to be more like Jesus and ask that you give us strength to act out our faith.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

July 11, 2010

Taking Refuge

Filed under: Devotion in Psalm — Tags: , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:00 am

Psalm 31:1-13

 

 

When I lived in Hong Kong, downpour was a common experience. In typical tropical weather, the rain came fast and furious.  Everyone caught without an umbrella would run for cover.  Today’s passage reminds me of taking refuge in the rain, but it is so much more than that. 

 

Commentary:

Psalm 31:1. The words “Taken refuge” is one word in Hebrew—hasa.  As an action word, it carries several different images.  The word hasa probably reminds us of how we take cover when we are caught unprepared in a driving rainstorm.  To military minded men, like David, it is the running toward safety when there is an ambush.  For Jews at the time of David, it can refer to the temple being a shelter for all. 

But the meaning of hasa here is not a literal shelter.  It is the trust that the psalmist places in the Lord.  This trust is not just about this life but also the life after (v. 5).  This trust and God’s righteousness are the basis for his appeal.

Psalm 31:2. The psalmist was in a critical situation.  He needs God’s deliverance immediately, and he is not shy to ask for it.  In urgency, the psalmist uses a language that appears to be demanding.  Short of calling God to pay attention, he asks God to incline His ear to him.  Moreover, he wants the rescue to happen quickly.  While ordinary people may be hesitant to use this strong language in speaking to God, David knew God well and was intimate with his Lord and Shepherd.

Psalm 31:3. In addition to the trust and God’s righteousness, God would deliver because of His name.  This harkens the phrase in Ps 23:3, “He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

Psalm 31:5. In an unmistaken language, the psalmist expresses his faith in the Lord.  His spirit is safely in the hand of God no matter what will happen to him.  His eternality is secured because God is faithful, which is what the word “truth” (in NASB) refers to.  In other words, though David might not have everything right, his eternal security is based on the faithfulness of the Lord and not on his work. 

This phrase was also what our Lord uttered before he breathed his last (Luke 23:46).

Psalm 31:6. The psalmist’s has a strong sentiment toward falsehood.  The word idol is hebel in Hebrew, and it means vanity.  Together, the phrase “vain idols” should read vain vanities.  In connection with the previous verse on the eternal security, anything that turns the focus from God and the eternal hope is the vanities.  The vanities can be entertainments, money, power, food, and parties, and certainly they are all idols. 

Psalm 31:9-13. The psalmist describes to the Lord his dire condition.  

 

Meditation:

The psalmist’s confidence of his eternal life is what faith is all about.  Christians believe that Jesus Christ has come to die on the cross and shed his blood for the remission of sin.  When we place our trust in Jesus and His work, we basically say that we are not good enough to achieve righteousness and rely on the Son of God to redeem us.  We commit our spirit to our Lord.  Knowing that we will meet our Savior face to face when we die, we face each day confidently. 

Moreover, we have the boldness to come before God.  Boldness comes from confidence.  God loves us enough to send us His Son to die for us, there is nothing left that He would not give us.  Confident that God would give us all things that are good for us, we boldly go to His throne and petition our Heavenly Father. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, you are our refuge.  Let’s come to your throne boldly and ask for protection and strength.  Let’s do great things to dispel the vanities in our world.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

July 6, 2010

How to Walk in Faith

Filed under: Devotion in Psalm — Tags: , , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:00 am

Psalm 26

 

 

We sometime wonder what it takes to act like a Christian.  This psalm provides concrete ways to follow the Lord.

 

Commentary:

Psalm 26:1. The psalmist appeals to God because of two things.  The first is that he has been faithful in his walk.  The word walk refers to his conduct.  At the very least, he did not do anything that is inconsistent to what God desires.  Going beyond that, the psalmist also does not compromise in choosing his friends (vv. 4-5). 

The other basis for appeal is the trust he has placed in God.  He did not waver in that trust.  What is trust?  Trust is not seeing the circumstance and change the way we act.  We remember that David ran like a dog when Saul chased after him to kill him.  David had some opportunities to harm Saul, but he did not do that and even prevented his men from hurting Saul.  David trusted God would do the right thing at the right time and would not change his conviction. 

Psalm 26:2. The psalmist is so certain of his integrity that he asks God to search his inner thought.  This purity in thought is a struggle for many believers.  How is David able to keep even his thought consistent with God’s desire?

Psalm 26:3. Our mind does not have a multitasking capability despite what many people thought.  When we dwell on one thought, there is no other thought in our brain.  Therefore, we can keep our thought pure if we do what David did.  The pure thought is to keep the lovingkindness of God ever present in our mind and to think of ways of living out God’s truth in our life. 

Gratitude is a powerful feeling to keep us from going astray.  The thankfulness comes when we count our blessings daily.  The most important blessing and the one that is ever present in Christian is our salvation.  Our redemption is a testament of how much God has done to love us out of his character and not because we have been good.

If we occupy our mind to find ways to please God, we will find real purpose in life.  Instead of searching for meanings of life, we inject meanings into what we do.  Instead of giving ways to the influence of the world, we exude the glory of God at where we are.  There is no substitute to be an effective agent of God but through what we do and say. 

Psalm 26:4-5. We cannot put ourselves in a compromise situation.  These two verses mention about friends.  But it goes beyond just people; it also covers the choice of medium we engage in.  The entertainment—movies, songs, and television shows—is often what we do at our free time.  The psalmist tells how he avoids anything that degrades his walk with God. 

Psalm 26:6-7.  On the other hand, people of God take positive initiatives to foster our spiritual growth.  We take time to celebrate godliness.  Worship in private and in public is a great way to celebrate.

Psalm 26:7.  Fellowship is an important part of positive influence.  Find friends that cheer you on.  Share with each other of the great things God has done.

Psalm 26:8. Finally take action to love God.  All matter starts with the heart.  How to love God? Time is love.  Cultivate the heart of loving God by spending time in the house of God.

Psalm 26:9-10. Ask God to keep you safe.  God is in control of everything.  If we ask, the Lord will protect us from harm. 

Psalm 26:11-12.  God will protect in two ways.  One is the physical protection.  The next psalm covers that.  The other is the rescue from temptation.  If we are faithful in following the advice given here, no temptation will overtake you (1Cor 10:13).

 

Meditation:

How is your walk with the Lord?  Which steps in this psalm that you do well?  Which one will you like to improve?

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your lovingkindness.  We pray that we will walk in faith and be the light of this world.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

June 28, 2010

The Success of Believers

Filed under: Devotion in Galatians — Tags: , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:00 am

Galatians 6:1-18

 

 

Success is a favorable or desired outcome.  We have been learning that salvation does not come through work.  Then what kind of work does salvation have for a person?  In this passage, Paul teaches us the outcome of genuine believing. 

 

Commentary:

Galatians 6:1. The word caught in Greek language implies an unintended action to sin.  Paul describes someone who did not premeditate on the sins but was caught in the moment.  When that happens, Paul wants believers to bring the person back.

Galatians 6:2. The word “burdens” here is βάρος baros in Greek.  It means either excessive body weight or oppressive suffering here.  Paul likely implies the latter meaning in this verse since the church would suffer from the hands of Jewish faction if the believers in the church did not follow the Law. 

Galatians 6:3-4. Often we evaluate our success by comparing our achievement against those of the others.   Nevertheless, in the kingdom of heaven, we are evaluated by our own work.  We may be a lot better than another person in the church, but God looks at what we achieve based on our own talents and resources.  In the same way, we should evaluate our own work.  If we have lots of results but are still underachieving, we will have no reason for boasting.  The word boasting is closely related to the exultation of heavenly things to come; it does not mean to become prideful.

Galatians 6:5. The word “load” is φορτίον in Greek.  It has the implication of “work load” and continues the thought of work in verses 3 and 4.  The work has nothing to do with observing the Law but is about what comes out from the faith.  When we have faith, it permeates through actions in love (5:6, 13).  

Galatians 6:6. The one who teaches at the church is sustained by those who receive the teaching.  There is an obligation to pay the pastors, teachers, and elders helping out the church.  Still they are not hired servants to do administration work but called by God to teach.

Galatians 6:12-15. While men boast the work that they accomplish in the flesh, Paul teaches that that believers triumph through the crucifixion of the world and the new creation.  Both are two sides of the same coin.  Genuine saved persons would not purposely choose to love the world.  They would treasure the new creation in them.  They foster the growth of the new born with the word of God, the fellowship with other believers, and the daily communion with God in spirit through prayer. 

 

Meditation:

In our daily walk, we can distracted by the successes and failures of others.  This passage helps us know that God measures us by our own progress.  We cannot be tripped up because others seem to be doing better than we are or to be faltering exceedingly.  We have to evaluate if we are getter better than yesterday.

What is getting better?  Getting better is when the new born spirit is strengthened.  Although that is a vague term, we can measure it with physical parameter.  The time that we spend at fellowship, worship, and prayer is a measureable parameter.  The people that we help are good indicators.  The growth of the ministries that we are called to do is a vital sign.  Mostly, we know deep inside when God is pleased with us. 

Let us no longer strive to please the flesh. But let us in every way seek the pleasure of our Master.  Then we will be found in Him, and He in us.

June 26, 2010

The Freed Prisoner

Filed under: Devotion in Galatians — Tags: , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:00 am

Galatians 5:1-15

 

 

Prison is not a small part in the state budget of California.  Although there are not many criminals, the jail has no lack of prisoners.  The reason is that many prisoners are repeat offenders.  Today’s passage touches on the spiritual prison that people once were in and discusses what the consequence for the repeat offender. 

 

Commentary:

Galatians 5:1. Would a freed man who once was under bondage want to return to bondage again?  The logic says no, but the fact begs to differ.  The recidivism rate is over 80%.  Why? What is the consequence of returning to bondage in spiritual matter?

Galatians 5:2-3. Any reliance on keeping the Law relinquishes the status of relying on the promise of God only.   The action returns and nullifies the grace received. Now the person has to keep the whole Law. 

Galatians 5:4. Believing is not a one-time event.  The act of trusting Jesus Christ is likened to a branch relying on the tree trunk for sustenance in the book of John.  All believers have to remain or keep trusting in Christ or will be cut off from him.  Here Paul reminds us that trusting in any others for eternal life results in severance from the life of Jesus Christ. 

Galatians 5:5-6. The surety of attaining righteousness lies not in nationality.  That is why Paul emphasizes that Jews who have the circumcision and gentiles who have not the circumcision are not excluded to the claim of the promise.  Faith working through love is the mean to righteousness.

Galatians 5:11. The cross presents a unique challenge to different group of people.  To the gentiles, the condescending love of God is mind boggling.  To the Jews, the doing away with the Law is unacceptable.  Only if Paul had changed and incorporated the cross into the Law, Christianity would have been a sect of Judaism.   But that is not the intention of our Lord Jesus; for everyone must receive his righteousness by faith working through love. 

Galatians 5:14.  Faith is not without work, albeit that it is not the observance of the superficiality of the Law.  If there is faith in a person, work of love comes out to fulfill the essence of the Law.   Part of faith requires us to love one another—a summation of the Law. 

 

Meditation:

Grace is freely given, but it is not cheap.  First, it costs the life of the Son of God to secure the price of eternal life.  It takes the sacrifice of Jesus to purchase our pardon. 

Then the grace of salvation is given with contingence.  If a person decides that he needs something else to complement grace, then he will have no part in the salvation.  Grace plus anything else surrenders the effect of grace alone.

Instead of thinking about work, use our time and energy to connect with God and the body of Christ.  Live in the community of believers.  Join the fellowship.  Read the Bible and pray.   Find every opportunity to give thanks and count our blessings.

June 24, 2010

Becoming What God Intended

Filed under: Devotion in Galatians — Tags: , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:00 am

Galatians 4:12-20

 

 

The Bible has difficult phrases that require a lot of thought and understanding.  Today’s passage has one of those.  What does “become as I am, for also have become as you are” mean?  Read the passage in the Bible and the commentary to find out.

 

Commentary:

Galatians 4:12. Apostle Paul appealed to the Galatians earnestly here.  He wanted them to be like him in two aspects.  The first aspect was about human relation.  Paul wanted the Galatians to love him as he loved them.  In the following verses, Paul recalled that he was really sick when he first came to them.  They could have despised him, but instead they loved and gave selflessly to him.  Paul became like them and loved them selflessly.  But the false gospel had poisoned their love.  Now Paul wanted them to love him again as much as he still loved them. 

The other aspect was theological.  Paul was once a Jew.  When he received Jesus Christ as his Savior, he had forsaken his Jewish tradition.  He had received the promise through faith, just like a gentile would do.  Paul now reminded the Galatians to be like a gentile to receive salvation by grace through faith.

Galatians 4:17-18. Christians are commended to respect the elders and pastors.  We need to seek after the truth and the godly servants who bring it to us.  Nevertheless, it would be wise to test if the servants indeed are speaking the truth.  One telltale sign is what intention of the servants.  Do they make exclusivity claim?  A lot of churches claim to be the only true church in its time.  I know of the Boston sect of Church of Christ doing that.  I also know of the Chinese “Local Church” doing the same.  They are suspects for not telling the truth.

 

Meditation:

From this passage, believers learn at least three things that God intends us to become. The first thing is love.  Paul told of a beautiful story of love.  The Galatians and he were able to demonstrate a love that was not rooted in appearance or reciprocating motive.  This love is what all human beings desire.  The question is that if brothers and sisters in Christ are able to love others like Jesus would.  Jesus loves people when they are unlovely.  When the people are still enemies of Him, Jesus has died for them on the cross.  

God also wants us to respect the elders.  This intention applies to every believer, no matter what age we may be.  This is true for teenagers, who are accustomed to rebelling.  It is also true for accomplished adults, who have been successful at what they do.

Finally God wants us to discern the bad churches.  The way to do that is to check the word taught to you against the word of God.  Ask God for the spirit of discernment. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us and molding us to be like you Son.  We pray that we can put down our desires and pride and follow Jesus in living our life.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress