Monday Morning Prayer

This morning I woke early to begin an online Bible study with the ladies of Love God Greatly.  It begins in Galatians with the apostle Paul writing to the churches of Galatia defending a threat made against him while he had been traveling through the area doing mission work.

Paul was accused by some Jewish Christians of watering down the faith in order to win over Gentiles.  The Jewish Christians disagreed that Gentiles did not have to follow Jewish laws first in order to be saved.  The Jewish stated that these Gentiles must be circumcised first.

This dispute, however, was settled in the book of Acts, chapter 15 when Paul stood before the Jerusalem council and said in verses 7-11,

Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe.  God, who knows people’s hearts, confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he gave him to us.  He made no distinction between us and them, for he also cleansed their hearts through faith.  Why are you now burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?  We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the special favor of the Lord Jesus.”

Jesus – Son of God,

Thank you for dying for the sins of ALL mankind just as God had planned from the beginning.  You knew we could not keep your laws and You loved us enough to give us a way out.  You became the sacrifice that would cleanse every believer so that we could spend eternity with You in Heaven.  You rescued us from this evil world in which we live and that is why all glory belongs to God through all the ages of eternity.  (Gal 1:4-5)

~ In Jesus Name, Amen!

Happy Labor Day!