Galatians 1, Day 3
Read
Paul was speaking against people who are compromising the heart of the gospel. If the gospel comes from God as grace, we are wise to remember that same grace is embodied in the outstretched arms and self-giving love of Jesus on the cross.
Reflect
Richard B. Hays writes, “If the church is to bear witness to the gospel with integrity, ‘in this present age’ it must have the courage to make such discernment and to speak prophetically against destructive teachings that deny the grace of God” (NIB, p. 207) What words, actions, and/or intentions deny God’s grace to others? How will you seek to respond to others with grace?
Respond
Follow Jesus
Watch your words, actions and intentions today. Seek to respond to others with grace.
Pray
Lord Jesus, you are the only one I seek. Help me encounter your love and sacrifice in all I say and do today so I may grow in grace and become more like you. Amen.
Celebrate
In the evening, reflect on the following: Where did you encounter grace today? Where did you deny grace today? What will you try to do different in the future (if anything)? Use a notebook to record your responses. Share your celebrations in the comments below.
Extra Thoughts
- If you haven’t taken a moment to review the “Overview of Following Jesus Every Day: Galatians,” please do so. You’ll find a few tips that will help you start this journey.
Gritty Facts and Gritty Faith
Jim Collins tells the story of Admiral Stockdale in his best-selling book, Good to Great. Admiral Stockdale was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for eight years. When Collins interviewed Admiral Stockdale about who survived and who did not, he said it was often the optimists that didn’t make it.
Admiral Stockdale went on to say, “This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” Collins called this the Stockdale Paradox.
Brene Brown went on to call this principle, gritty facts and gritty faith, inviting leaders to set the expectation for both dreaming big and reality-checking your dreams with the cold hard facts.
Paul seems to wave the banner for gritty facts and gritty faith in the passage you’re reading today. I wonder where you’ve seen gritty facts and gritty faith lived out?
Perhaps it will be you today…especially as you consider the celebration questions for this evening.
As I observe what is going on in the world I wonder how many people have read the gospel or if they have do they understand what they have read. It seems as though people are caught up in a me first attitude and do not care to hear what others might have to say. We may not accept they way others are living their life but that is not for us to decide. It is up to us to share with them about what Christ did for us and how they too can have hope of an everlasting life with him in eternity. I prayed recently with a close friend as he was dying, “We have the faith hope and trust that God’s grace is sufficient.” It is not up to us to judge but to give other the proper tools to make good decisions. Have a blessed day!