“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
Those who trust in Christ Jesus are called to liberty because Christ has fulfilled all the demands of the law in their stead, but the Apostle Paul calls upon them to use their liberty in Christ not to indulge in the sinful desires of the flesh but to serve one another in love.
Grant that I live for You, O Christ, and use my liberty to love my neighbor and serve his needs. Amen.
“I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!” Galatians 5:10-12
Those who cause others to err or fall from the true faith by spreading teachings and beliefs that do not agree with the revealed Word of God will be judged by the LORD God and held accountable for misleading souls redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus. Indeed, it would be better for those urging circumcision and righteousness based on the law to emasculate themselves than to weaken or destroy the faith of believers!
Keep me from error and false teaching, O Lord, and preserve me in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus. In His name, I pray. Amen.
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9
With these words, the apostle warns of the effects of doctrinal error. Like a little bit of yeast leavens the entire batch of dough, doctrinal errors — even seemingly small and insignificant errors — affect the entire body of doctrine. Errors in one article of faith affect all articles of faith, and all false and erring teachings are of the devil and used to weaken and destroy faith in Christ.
O God, preserve me from the leaven of false doctrine that I may be preserved in the true and saving faith unto life everlasting. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7
Through the Bible, God calls us to seek Him before it is too late. He calls on us to turn from our evil thoughts and sinful ways to Him for mercy and abundant forgiveness through faith in the atoning sacrifice of His own dear Son, Jesus Christ! Have you heeded God’s call?
Grant to me a penitent heart, O God, and have mercy on me and forgive my sins for the sake of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for the sins of all. Amen.
“You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.” Galatians 5:7-8
The believers in Galatia had been running well, trusting they were acceptable to God through faith alone in Jesus Christ and His cross, but false teachers, not sent by God, were hindering them and turning them away from the truth by saying that the believers needed to be circumcised and obey the worship laws of the Old Testament. We, too, need to be on guard against false teachers who would turn us back to reliance upon works of the law or man-made traditions rather than upon God’s grace and mercy in Jesus Christ.
Grant that I hold fast to the truth and trust solely in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for my salvation. Amen.
