December 17, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Hands On

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Blessed Lord, You are my guide and protector. Renew my troubled spirit with the assurance of Your love and mercy.

Read Galatians 6:1-18

[1] Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. [2] Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. [3] If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. [4] Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, [5] for each one should carry their own load. [6] Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. [7] Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. [8] Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. [9] Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. [10] Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. [11] See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! [12] Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. [13] Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. [14] May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. [15] Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. [16] Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule-to the Israel of God. [17] From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. [18] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Early Christianity survived because of the priority of the Christians to care for one another” (Arnold Toynbee, 1889–1975). Obviously they took to heart Paul’s admonition to the Galatians.

 

 As the letter moves to its end, Paul reminds the Galatians of two basic Christian responsibilities. First, it is a duty to keep my own Christian life on track (4). To blame others for my bad habits and poor decisions is not a virtue. I need to be hands-on about my discipleship (5). Alongside this, I must be concerned for the burdens that my sisters and brothers have to carry (2). The needs of others are a summons to me (10). As a family of faith, we are in this Christian life together. As followers of Jesus, we should each commit to it personally.
Paul would generally dictate his letters to a scribe, but he would sometimes write the last few lines in his own hand (1 Cor. 16:21; 2 Thess. 3:17). It looks as though he did this in Galatians (11). In this last section he uses the word “flesh” to refer to circumcision (13) and perhaps he has a connection in mind between two meanings of the word. Those Galatian Christians who focus on “flesh”—on a physical religious ceremony—will find themselves struggling with the “flesh”—their own sinful nature.
For Paul, it mattered to know what matters. Circumcision, he said, is not important (15), and those who act as if it is may end up as strangers to the life of the Spirit (8). So, as he completes his task of writing and hands it on to the Galatians to read and respond, he reminds them that what matters most is God’s new creation (15). In Jesus, God remakes our lives. The Galatians will discover this by faith (Gal. 2:16), by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16) and through their care for one another (2,10). Then freedom and fellowship will indeed mark their Christian living.

 As the letter moves to its end, Paul reminds the Galatians of two basic Christian responsibilities. First, it is a duty to keep my own Christian life on track (4). To blame others for my bad habits and poor decisions is not a virtue. I need to be hands-on about my discipleship (5). Alongside this, I must be concerned for the burdens that my sisters and brothers have to carry (2). The needs of others are a summons to me (10). As a family of faith, we are in this Christian life together. As followers of Jesus, we should each commit to it personally.
Paul would generally dictate his letters to a scribe, but he would sometimes write the last few lines in his own hand (1 Cor. 16:21; 2 Thess. 3:17). It looks as though he did this in Galatians (11). In this last section he uses the word “flesh” to refer to circumcision (13) and perhaps he has a connection in mind between two meanings of the word. Those Galatian Christians who focus on “flesh”—on a physical religious ceremony—will find themselves struggling with the “flesh”—their own sinful nature.
For Paul, it mattered to know what matters. Circumcision, he said, is not important (15), and those who act as if it is may end up as strangers to the life of the Spirit (8). So, as he completes his task of writing and hands it on to the Galatians to read and respond, he reminds them that what matters most is God’s new creation (15). In Jesus, God remakes our lives. The Galatians will discover this by faith (Gal. 2:16), by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16) and through their care for one another (2,10). Then freedom and fellowship will indeed mark their Christian living.

 

Apply

How do you experience God’s work of new creation (15) in your own living? How can you nurture this and grow a harvest of eternal life (8)?

Closing prayer

Lord, I thank You for the caring that is done by the Christian Church and by individual Christians around the world. Help me to be an effective part of this ministry.

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