Colossians 3

Colossians 3 (The Message)
He Is Your Life

Colossians 3 is especially rich.

- v12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

- v15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Colossians 2

Colossians 2
Not Philosophy but Christ

- v6-7 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 1

Colossians 1
Preeminence of Christ

- NKJV v15-18 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Christ Holds It All Together

- MSG v26-29 This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.

Philippians 4

Philippians 4 (Amplified)

- v6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

- v13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

---------------------------------------------
- MSG v21-22 Give our regards to every follower of Jesus you meet. Our friends here say hello. All the Christians here, especially the believers who work in the palace of Caesar, want to be remembered to you.

Paul is amazing. He has converted the household of Caesar while in prison, and I believe it's substantial enough for him to have written that.

Philippians 2-3

Philippians 3:12-16
Pressing Toward the Goal

- v12-16 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

There will always be poor people....

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." John12:4-8

"Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."
- Deu 15:10-11

You Matter To God!

John 10:3
3… he calls his own sheep by name…

Do you sometimes feel like you are just a face in a crowd or a number in a system? You are identified by your identity card number or passport number. Even when you see the doctor, you are called by your queue number. If you feel depersonalised and dehumanised, that is exactly how the devil wants you to feel — that you do not matter much to anyone, especially to God.

But you do matter to God! He calls you by name. He knows what you are going through and where you are hurting. He sees you and cares for you, just as He cared for the people when He first walked on earth.

On one occasion, Jesus crossed all the way to the other side of the lake, even defying the devil’s attempt to drown Him (Luke 8:22–39), because a man who was demonised was calling out to Him for help. Jesus heard him and crossed an entire lake just to go to him. My friend, Jesus came a long way from heaven to come to you. You certainly matter to Him!

Even now, if you have problems in your life, Jesus sees you and He will not pass you by. He will do for you what He did for the woman at Samaria. There was a shorter route from Judea to Galilee, but the Bible said, “He needed to go through Samaria.” (John 4:4) Jesus purposely took a longer route because He wanted to stop by Samaria to speak to the woman who had been searching for things to satisfy her in her life. Now, Jesus has come to offer you the more abundant life too. (John 10:10)

In Luke 5:12–13, Jesus touched the leper and healed him. Although He could heal from afar, which He did for the 10 lepers in Luke 17:12–14, Jesus chose to heal this leper by touching him. The leper had been dehumanised, after being cut off from society for such a long time. Jesus’ personal touch gave him more than a new lease in life — it made him whole.

In the same way, Jesus has a personal love for you because you matter to Him. He calls you by name, sees beyond your every fault and wants to meet your every need!
[taken from daily devotional from church]

something that spoke to me today as i was looking through my email. =)

Philippians 1

Philippians 1:3-11
Thankfulness and Prayer

- v6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

--------------------------------------------
Philippians 1:12-30 (The Message)
They Can't Imprison the Message

- v15 It's true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the way, they think they'll step right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the world.

- v18-21 So how am I to respond? I've decided that I really don't care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!

-------------------------------------------
Philippians 1:27-30 (Amplified)
Striving and Suffering for Christ

- v27 Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel).

- v28 And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.

At the beginning, Paul talks about Christ constantly working in us, perfecting us to the day He returns. Which means that we will never be "perfect", so to speak. There will always be room for growth. But despite knowing that we are not "there" yet (ala being like Jesus), we continue to stand firm and not be afraid of our "opponents and adversaries", whether is it people coming against us because of the gospel, or colleagues/friends at work/school, or even work/stress itself. For if we the more we stand firm, it is a clear sign, proof and seal that God will see to their destruction and our our victory. Come to think of it, what makes you think those who come against us are better than us (and both sides are not "perfect"!) anyway?

Grace Greater Than All Our Sin

even a murderer can be redeemed...
http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/11554764/

Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6 (Amplified)
Bondservants and Masters

- v7 Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men,

- v8 Knowing that for whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.

The Whole Armor of God

- v19 And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),

- v20 For which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain [in prison. Pray] that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The last verse is for me, as an ambassador. =)

A special throne

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." - Heb4:16

If it is a Throne of Grace, then all the wants of those who come to it will be supplied. The King from off such a Throne will not say, “You must bring to Me gifts, you must offer to
Me sacrifices.” It is not a Throne for receiving tribute. It is a Throne for dispensing gifts.....
This is not the Throne of majesty which supports itself by the taxation of its subjects, but a Throne which glorifies itself by streaming forth like a fountain with floods of good things.
-C.H. SPURGEON

Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5:1-20 (The Message)
Wake Up from Your Sleep

- v1-2 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

- v11-17 Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see....So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

- v21 Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.

Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1-16 (The Message)
To Be Mature

- v4 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.

- v14-16 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

Ephesians 4:17-32 (The Message)
The Old Way Has to Go

- v20-24 But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

- v30 Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.

lets trade

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Colossians 1:19-23

lets trade, our lowly positions as sinners for reconciliation to God as the beloved. lets trade, focusing on the flesh for trusting in the guidance of peace by the holy Spirit. lets trade a defeated mentality for a more than conqueror spirit. lets trade all of us, for all of Jesus.

Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3 (The Message)
The Secret Plan of God

- v8 ... I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.

- v20 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2 (The Message)
He Tore Down The Wall

- v1-6 It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us.

-----------------------------------
I look at some of my colleagues sometimes and I wonder: they are not evil people so to speak. They are nice, sensible people who also have families and children to take care of. They are hardworking people, shrewd and wise, and they hold a senior position with responsibilities and power. They are not bad people. So what's the difference between them and me?

Because they don't have God in their lives, everything they believe and do is based on human moral standards. They live by their own strength and might, and they strive with their arm of flesh to get everything they want. They all did what they felt like doing, when they felt like doing, with no consideration of God in the picture.

I sometimes wonder why we struggle so hard to be a Christian when non-believers seem to have life much better off doing whatever they want and like without care or concern? But the reason why we even struggle with issues like pride, self-righteousness, envy, jealousy and cynicism, is a sure-sign that "it's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life." (Eph 1:13-14)

Ephesians 1

Ephesians is a tough book, a very tough book. I read and re-read the Scripture, but I couldn't understand the book at all, even though the book is basically about God's love for you. Then I realised I didn't understand what it's like to be loved by God, and how much God loves me.

So I decided to just read through it last week, and go into it again this week...

Ephesians 1:3-23 (The Message)
The God of Glory

- v15-19 That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!

the eyes of the mind

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

matthew 6:22-23

take heed what we fill our minds with, because that will determine whether or not we walk in the light or darkness.

When pride, efforts comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.

Came across this in my daily bread one day and thought it's good stuff.

Proverbs 16:18 -25 (NIV)

18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction. ^[a]

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction. ^[b]

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.

Quoting the following from my daily bread...

In Narnia Chronicle, The horse and His boy, Bree is a talking horse. He considers the boy, Shasta, a "foal" who is badly in need of training. Often the horse's arrogant opinions reflect an air of superiority. He thinks of himself as a brave warhorse, possessing great skill and courage. Yet, when he hears the roar of a great lion, he flees and leaves the other members of his party unprotected.

Later, Bree meets Aslan the lion, who is king of Narnia. The horse admits that he has been an arrogant and frightened failure. Aslan praises Bree for admitting his shortcomings. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). Life has a way of exposing the flaws of our own personal vanity. But learning the hard lesson that "pride goes before destruction" can become a turning point in which we intentionally shift our focus away from exalting self. Then as we adopt a humble spirit before God and man, we can becomes channels of wisdom to others.

Promoting our own importance leads to stumbling. But focusing on glorifying God and meeting the needs of others gives us the perspective of the wise. -- Dennis Fisher.

Pride brings shame.
Humility brings wisdom.

Have the heart of peace, a heart of rest and not strive to see and boast of urself.
Boast of the Daddy's goodness in ur lives!

BOLDNESS!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:3-14

Galatians 6

Galatians 6 (The Message)

- v9-10 So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

-----------------

- v17 Quite frankly, I don't want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus.

- v18 May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!

Wisdom, knowledge, understanding.

3 words echo throughout the book of Proverbs: wisdom, knowledge, understanding. God has packed this book with common sense. Indeed God's Word is the best source of all to develop discernment and good judgment.

Love these verses...

Proverbs 2:6
The LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
(I think the His refers to Jesus, I love the way He shares the parables in Matthew! He shares it in a story like manner, easy yet when seek in depth, unravels so much more. Each time u read the same parable, different mysteries are dugged up! Cool!!!)

Proverbs 11:12
A man of understanding holds his peace.
(Now, the his refers to us?)

Proverbs 17:27
He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
(speaks so much of guarding ur heart. In essence, guarding of heart, keeping the peace allows us to hear His voice much clearer, henceforth flowing and doing greater things in HIM!)


Thou shall be in peace and flow in my studies! shalom shalom... =)

No Human Honey

From One Thing Devotional:

Kindness should not be mixed with human kindness (honey) but be lead by the spirit. Love with wisdom and be harmless as dove.

Galatians 5

Galatians 5

- MSG v11-12 As for the rumor that I continue to preach the ways of circumcision (as I did in those pre-Damascus Road days), that is absurd. Why would I still be persecuted, then? If I were preaching that old message, no one would be offended if I mentioned the Cross now and then—it would be so watered-down it wouldn't matter one way or the other. Why don't these agitators, obsessive as they are about circumcision, go all the way and castrate themselves!

HAHAHAHAHA God has a great sense of humour!!!
--------------------------------------------------
- AMP v19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,

20Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),

21Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

- MSG v19-21It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.


I like the way the MSG puts it. It's so descriptive that I can identify with it.
---------------------------------------------------------------
- AMP v22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

23Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].

- MSG v22-23 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.


Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
------------------------------------------------------
- MSG v25-26Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

the Righteous was crushed for the wicked.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.

-Isa 53:5,11 (NIV)

Scourged For Your Wholeness

Today's Daily Devotional is titled: Scourged For Your Wholeness


Do Jesus need to go through the scourging to remove our sins? Actually not. In fact, if Jesus was crucified on the Cross, our sins will still be washed. But God chooses that Jesus be scourged for our Wholeness. What magnitude of Love and Passion.

This shows what God see as important in our life. Forgiveness of sins is important, but our physical and mental wholeness are important as well. Truly today, by His stripe (singular), we are healed (past tense).

Galatians 4

Galatians 4 (The Message)

- v1-3 Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance, he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation. That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives.

- v4-7 But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.

-------------------------------------
Minor-heir vs Child-heir

In His Face...

2 Corinthians 4:6
God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

What do you say?

John 19:30
30So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Don’t worry about what you see or feel, or the presence of contradicting reports. These are lying symptoms and though they may seem very real, they are temporal and not the truth. God’s Word is the truth and it will remain because it is eternal. And when you believe that only what God’s Word says about your situation is the truth, all the lying symptoms will eventually line up with His Word.

God the Son says, “It is finished!”

God the Father says, “It is done!”

What do you say?

Galatians 3

Galatians 3:1-27
Trust in Christ, Not the Law

- v2-4 Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!

- v11 The obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a relationship with God that way. The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him. Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Habakkuk had it right: "The person who believes God, is set right by God—and that's the real life."

Gal 2:20 (ESV)

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2

Galatians 2:1-21 (The Message)
What is Central?

-v19-21 What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Galatians 1

Galatians 1:11

-v11 NKJV - But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.

-v11 MSG - Know this—I am most emphatic here, friends—this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism.

At your level of expectation

there is no particular level your faith must reach before God gives you what you are asking for. Your faith does not initiate God’s giving. God has already given to you all things that pertain to life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) His blessings are pressing on you already! And at whatever level of faith you are at, God will respond.

Extracted from "The One Thing" 2th September 2007

I'm Graven On His Hands

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraven you on the palms of My hand; your walls are ever before Me." - Isaiah 49:15,16

Couples tattoo each other's names on themselves as a sign of love for each other... Jesus? He went the extreme, His hands were pierced for us, His life - given up for our sins. The nail holes on Jesus's Hands are eternal reminder of His love for us.