Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Galatians 4:16
Like the apostle, faithful pastors warn their hearers of the consequences when they fall into sin or doctrinal error and seek to restore them to the truth that they might be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Yet it happens far too often that, when pastors speak the truth to their parishioners, they are hated and rejected for it. Wouldn’t it be better to know the truth and repent rather than remain deceived and be condemned?
O gracious and merciful God, grant that I hear Your Word spoken to me by my pastor and repent of my sins that I might be saved through faith in Christ Jesus and His cross. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
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. Galatians 4:14
Like the Apostle Paul, ministers of the Gospel suffer from physical infirmities and weaknesses. Yet, as the apostle was received as a messenger of God and as Christ Jesus Himself, we need to remember that when ministers, frail as they may be, speak the Word of God to us and rightly serve us with His Sacraments, Christ Jesus Himself comes to us and shares with us His life-giving promises and creates faith in our hearts.
Grant, O Lord, that I hear Your voice when my minister proclaims Your Word and that Your promises convey to me, through faith in Your name, the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting You won for me on the cross. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from King James Version of the Bible.]
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Galatians 4:8-11
Before hearing and believing the gospel of forgiveness and life eternal through faith in Christ Jesus, people served false gods of their own imagination through earthly rituals and rites such as the observing of certain days, certain seasons, certain foods, and other man-made religious practices. Why would we, after receiving through faith in Christ and His cross pardon and forgiveness and the promise of eternal life, go back to trying to serve God with such weak and elemental practices? To do so is to lose the true faith and God’s blessings in Christ.
Grant that I trust in You alone, O Christ, and not trust in religious works and rites for my salvation. Amen
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
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
The law instructs us and reveals our utter sinfulness and need for the promised Savior. God kept His ancient promise to send that Savior – His own dear Son, born of the Virgin Mary – to keep the law for us and then to redeem us from the curse of the law by dying for our sins in our stead. Why? That we might be adopted and accepted as God’s own children through faith in Christ Jesus and inherit eternal life.
Thank You, O gracious God, for sending Your Son to redeem me from the curse and condemnation of Your holy law. Grant that I hold fast to Christ Jesus in faith that I may be Your child and partake of the eternal joys of Your kingdom. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:28-29
While often misapplied by those seeking to justify women in the pastoral ministry, this word of God teaches that all who trust in Christ Jesus for pardon and are baptized in His name, whether male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free, are a part of the one body of Christ, members of the holy catholic (universal) church. And those who trust in Christ are the promised offspring of Abraham and will inherit the blessing promised to Abraham — a place in Christ’s eternal kingdom!
Grant that I trust in You, O Christ, that I might be a part of Your church and kingdom and inherit the everlasting joys of heaven. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]