Galatians 4:21-31 Life is filled with contrasts, especially the contrasts between the choices we have before us and the consequences of what we actually choose.  I was once the foreman of a sad civil case that was, in some ways, a tale of two mothers.  As the case developed, it became clear that the stepmother was the responsible one and the birth mother was the one whose choices were causing dramatic and disturbing behavior in 10 year old son.  These... Read more

Galatians 4:12-20             How do we as pastors come to our flocks, and how do we as sheep receive the pasture that God gives us?  These are the 2 related questions that St. Paul raises for us today. First, for those of you who are pastors of some kind, among whom I include ordained clergy, Sunday school teachers, mentors, and, of course, parents: how do you come to the sheep that God has entrusted to you? ... Read more

Galatians 4:1-11 What is the gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ?  If you had to present it to someone who did not already know, could you do it?  What would you say?  How would you express it? John 3:16 is one such place.  I’ve often wondered at what precise moment in history John 3:16 became the verse above all verses, the first one we teach our children to memorize.  During medieval jousting tournaments, was there a guy at the... Read more

Galatians 3:19-29 I love the considerable time I’ve spent teaching children.  I remember that one of the memories that motivated me to become a teacher was an experience in tutoring that I had in 4th grade.  There was a kid in my class named Ulitt Johnson, and the teacher had assigned me to go during the school day into a separate room and tutor him in math.  I remember the good feeling I had as I helped him to discover... Read more

Galatians 3:10-18             We’ve all heard of curses before, for they are the stuff of legends.  They say there was the Curse of the Bambino, so that the Red Sox were cursed from being able to win the World Series.  For reasons still unknown, that “curse” has been lifted, and they have now won the W.S. twice.  Now if you really want to believe in curses . . . check out the Chicago Cubs instead!... Read more

Galatians 3:1-9 Paul is so abundantly clear on the point that we are not justified by the works of the Law but by faith in Jesus Christ and that we receive the Spirit by faith and not by the Law that I won’t spend much time on it here.  In a different age, I would probably spend much more time arguing that we are saved by faith and not by the Law, but I don’t think that’s the main danger... Read more

Galatians 2:11-21 Theologically, I say with St. Paul that “a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.”  Devotionally, which is to say theologically in a personal and applied way, I say with St. Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,... Read more

Galatians 2:1-10 Here, as is true so often, St. Paul demonstrates a principle that I have adopted as principle by which I live.  The principle is this: “Be inflexible in the essential things in life and flexible in the less essential things.” Paul is absolutely clear that Jesus Christ has revealed to him that not only could Gentiles be saved but that they could also be saved without being circumcised or keeping all of the ceremonial law.  This liberty in... Read more

Galatians 1:11-24             “But it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles” (verse 15). This is an absolutely amazing statement!  But how many times have you read the book of Galatians and not noticed it, in your rush to get to the “real” message of Galatians and Paul’s teaching on legalism?  The truth is,... Read more