Lord,
Today, let me focus on you. Guide everything I do, think, or say.
Amen

Thought for the Day

Lord, forgive me for thinking ill of others, assuming their motivation. Let me see them as part of your creation. Forgive me when I think ill of myself. I am your creation too!

Galatians 2:1-14

What do you think of the conflict between Paul and Peter? What does it say about disagreements between denominations today?

Galations 1

v 11
"I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up."
Only God could invent such a wonderful and mysterious path to His kingdom. Knowing that none of us would ever be able to keep the Law perfectly, he overrode the Law and paid for our shortcomings. His sacrifice was great on more levels than we can ever fully understand. So when someone says that there are other ways to heaven, does that mean that Jesus didn't really have to die? In the garden, Jesus pleaded with God to spare him from what he was about to suffer if there was any other way. Of course he knew there wasn't so he willingly gave in to the plan.
Do you know anybody who is confused about what the gospel means? What do you do in that case?

I started reading Galations recently and wonder what y'all think about Chapter 1. Specifically, verse 4 "to rescue us from the present evil age"
verses 6&7 "I am astonished that you are so quickly ...turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all."

Have you ever questioned the teaching of your pastor? It's like going to a doctor. We are used to trusting that the doctor knows best and whatever he or she says is "gospel truth". But, sadly, that's not always the case. Although pastors are called by God to feed his sheep and teach us about the Word, they are as human as we are. And BOY are WE human!!! We all have our opinions and different ways of thinking about things.
But what is always true is God's Word and His Gospel telling us that Jesus died for our sins, defeated the devil and rose to life. He still reigns and will forever. Our ticket into His heavenly kingdom is relationship with and dependence on Him - no other - not ourselves or our deeds - but Him only.
There are a lot of churches straying from this message. I know. I've been to a few of them in my journey these past few years. What Paul saw back then is still the case today. Maybe you've seen the commercials on TV recently for scientology or noticed the expanse of political correctness to remove any message of God or Jesus from public signs so that no one is "offended". I was at a church for a while where the pastor didn't want to mention Jesus because some people might be offended. After all, the pastor said, Jesus is just one of many ways to heaven. I no longer attend that church.
To continue verse 7, "Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the Gospel of Christ." It's out there, my friends. Be vigilant.

The Plan?

So here's the plan...we choose a book of the Bible to study over the summer. Maybe read a chapter a week and share our thoughts on the reading.
I have been sooooo blessed by you guys! I'm looking forward to staying in touch!