Day 51 - Chapter 6

Chapter 6 is the last chapter of Galatians.

It is really amazing how God helps me relate my present circumstances to His messages in the bible. Ate Tin and I just had a very edifying conversation on the phone. 

Galatians 6:10 says, 

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

So yes, we were talking about how we miss serving and worshipping at our local churches in the Philippines. Back home, we were physically and spiritually active Christians, we would go places to meet with people and really just fellowship with one another and strengthen each other's faith. Also back home, music ministry is a big thing that the worship team can not proceed singing songs on a Sunday without practising and devoting hours of their time in preparation the days before. But since the Lord has chosen me and her as seeds to be planted on a hard soil, we are therefore compelled to adjust to our environment.

This country is a completely culture-shocking country. People shut you out if you come knocking at their doors to share Christ. People blatantly deny Jesus. Yet we remain unmoved. Thank you Ate for sharing your faith to me. You have no idea how I have missed some one openly talk about how much she loves God and how she continuously stand in awe of His power and greatness. It was such a breath of fresh air. You mentioned something about us helping each other in times of troubles. You were right, we have to be active and not just say, "I understand your situation and so I will pray for you". But to say, "I understand your situation so I will pray for you and then let's solve the problem together and let's do it now". This is what Galatians 6:10 is all about right? 


I think this is very evident in the churches that we serve here now don't you think? The whole congregation involves themselves in one's problem because they want to be a part of it and they want to help. We may not have all the fancy hillsongy worship team but I believe we have something to offer that they do not have ;)

Thank you for edifying me today Ate. Now, I can sleep peacefully without worrying about my clinical case presentation tomorrow :)

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 50 - Chapter 5

Paul continues to encourage the Galatians by reiterating that they must stand fast in the liberty Christ has bestowed upon them and not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (verse 1). This does not only apply to the Paul and the people of Galatia but to all who received God's grace through Jesus Christ. Us. We must not abuse liberty and use it as opportunity to sin but through love must serve one another, for love fulfills the law (verse 13-14). 

We know what the fruits of the Spirit are right? In the bible, Paul wrote FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, he considered love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as singular for all these virtues are virtually the character of one thing which is agape love. It is because of God's love that we are able to love Him in return and with it, our neighbours. 

Sometimes I do test myself if I am producing the fruit. It is not easy to possess these characters but like what the verse says, the Spirit directs us on how to live our Christian lives. We must allow Him to work His wonders so that we do not become frustrated in times when we fall short- His grace will always abound. 

Are we not all excited that the Holy Spirit fills us with such fruit? Each passing day, we can only think of positivity.

Each day is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our love towards the Lord and the world. 

 *taken from my Facebook notes

Day 49 - Chapter 4

Galatians 4 is very timely as today we are celebrating Father's Day.

No longer a slave but a son

Blessed Father's Day to all the awesome dads out there!                                                     

Galatians 4:6-7 says,

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 

I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour when I was 12, so that makes me a 14-year-old Christian. Every day is a battle for me because I know that I have weaknesses to conquer and often times I also know that I disappoint my Father because I lack the trust. Trust that will help me stand my ground and tell my struggles in life that my God is so much bigger than them and He can scale down the wall that separates me from Him. 

Thank You God for Your Son Jesus Christ because through Him I was transformed from a slave to an heir. I became Your daughter, one whom You love despite my insecurities and shortcomings. 

Can you see how privileged we are? The Most Powerful One, looked down on us and called us His children, His own because of His great love and mercy.

Abba Father, I love You so much and I am willing to spend my entire life showing you how much I really do mean to love You and thank You. I love You Father!

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 48 - Chapter 3

I have long been reading about the "law" in contrast to Jesus Christ thinking about the significance of it. Apostle Paul explained it in Romans several times but the whole gist of it is still a bit fuzzy to me.

Our church minister has reminded us once that a scripture must not be interpreted by yourself but interpreted by the light of other scriptures and I agree with him. Once we attempt to use our own reasons to translate the book into speech - we fall short of His glory straightaway. There are verses in the bible warning us about adding to and subracting from His words: Proverbs 30:5-6, Revelation 22:18-19, Deuteronomy 4:2.

Going back, thankfully Galatians 3:24-25 made it easier for me to understand why the law was given :) 

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 

No ebony or ivory in the eyes of God.

And then the promise was written in the following (verses 26-29): 

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

Such a great promise - we may think that in this world that we live in there are many types of descrimination, by gender, race, social orientation and etc. but in God's eyes we are all equal, created in His own image and likeness. As a budding professional, we sign an oath bound against descrimination exercising equality between our colleagues and patients before we start a new job. Hence, we still have hope.  

God does not play favouritism, we are all one in His eyes because we are His children. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 46 & 47 - Chapter 1 & 2

Apostle Paul urgently addressed the Galatians about emerging spurious doctrines. Churches have been planted in Galatia and were being led away by false teachers hence he wrote a letter to jar their memory and be reminded that they died to the law when Jesus Christ died on the cross.  

He gave an account of his coversion once again; how he persecuted the churches, how the Lord convicted him and how he was called to apostleship. 

Paul on the road to Damascus

Galatians 2:20

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, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

This is a commitment not only made between Paul and God, but also between us and the Almighty One. Therefore, if we promise to adhere to our calling, we are clothed with righteousness and no longer love the things of this world. We shun evil. We do good works. We remain faithful and increase in faith each passing day. We make sure we know his words through the bible, obey His commands and stick to them so that when people come to pervert the gospel of Christ (verse 7) we are all ready to defend it! 

*taken from my Facebook notes