Day 89/260: Read Galatians 5

What is the best way to defeat an enemy? Have you ever heard the phrase, “divide and conquer”? It is the idea that you can more easily control and rule smaller groups than one larger concentration of power. Traditionally, the concept is attributed to Philip II of Macedon, and the execution of the idea was seen in the rules of Julius Caesar in Rome and French emperor Napoleon.

Do you know who else utilizes the “divide and conquer” strategy? None other than Satan. When strife rears its ugly head in the church of our Lord and congregations fight and split apart, Satan has successfully divided and conquered.

Paul reminds us of this in the letter to the Galatians. “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”

How you treat your brother and sister in Christ is a reflection of your desire for unity in the kingdom. Are you biting and devouring? Or are you fulfilling the law, summed up thusly: “You shall love your neighbors as yourself”?

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Galatians 2:20. I have been crucified with __________; it is no longer I who live, but Christ __________ in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who __________ me and gave Himself for me.

Pray

Pray for unity among the brethren in the work of the Lord and in the fight against Satan.

Day 88/260: Read Galatians 4

Have you ever had a difference of opinion with a friend? How did that disagreement affect your relationship? Are you still friends?

When it comes to religious matters, there are opinions, but there are also facts. If we disagree on opinion, it should not be a huge issue. Even within the church, opinions should never harm our relationships with our brothers and sisters.

When it comes to facts, however, we cannot disagree. The things that God revealed through His Spirit in the Word are facts. We must be in harmony on matters of truth.

Paul asked, “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Sadly, that is often the case. When one parts from the once-for-all revealed faith, when they make themselves the enemies of God, then we have no choice in the matter.

We are exhorted to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). In so doing, we will make enemies. We should never be ugly about what the truth is, but we must not compromise.

We can still love one another, and treat each other civilly, and look for opportunities to restore the one who has fallen away, but when all is said and done, we are enemies.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Galatians 2:20. I have been __________ with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but __________ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by __________ in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Pray

Pray for those who have made themselves enemies of God by accepting false doctrine.

Day 87/260: Read Galatians 3

Does faith require obedience? There are many who claim the necessity of obedience negates God’s grace, thus one does not need to obey anything. Is this what Paul says in this chapter?

Abraham lived before the Law of Moses; he lived under what is commonly called “the Patriarchal Age.” Paul’s main point is that obedience for the sake of obedience is not what matters, but action based on faith. “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’”

Did you catch that? If you do what God says simply because God said it, then you’re missing something. We must live by faith! Faith directs us in the way live! We do what God says because we believe in Him (that is, we trust Him). We know what He has revealed is the truth, and that He will reward or punish according to our actions.

If you claim to believe in Jesus and expect to be counted among the saved, but refuse to do what He says, do you really believe in Him? Jesus is very clear that there will be some saved, and some lost. Paul says that those who have been “baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Their faith motivated them to obey His clear command (Mark 16:16). Have you obeyed?

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

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.

Pray

Pray for a stronger faith that directs the way you live.

Day 86/260: Read Galatians 2

Say one thing, do the opposite. That is the very height of hypocrisy, and even the apostle Peter failed in this regard. It should come as no surprise that hypocrisy is one of the leading reasons people give for not attending religious services.

Instead of browbeating those who neglect the grace of God, can we examine ourselves for a minute? Are we preventing other people from developing a proper relationship with Jesus because of our actions?

Look at what happened in this chapter: Peter, Paul, and Barnabas were in Antioch, fellowshipping with Gentile Christians. Then some Jews came to town, and Peter separated himself from the Gentiles. Not only that, Barnabas, the great encourager, stopped eating with the Gentiles as well. Peter sinned in his actions, and he influenced others to sin as well.

Our influence is so important. Our Lord said, “But however causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).

Let’s do our very best to live a life that positively influences others and draws them to Christ, rather than being the reason for people to reject the gospel.

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

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.

Pray

Pray to be a better example for those around you.

Day 85/260: Read Galatians 1

“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” There is so much truth in that statement.

The apostle Paul marveled that his brethren were turning away from the truth of the gospel; he was astonished they were being fooled. Still today, folks are being fooled by false teachers who are teaching something that sounds like the truth, but they are leaving so much out.

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16). He didn’t shy away from the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (Acts 20:26). And he warned that those who refused to preach the same message—those who perverted the gospel—were in eternal danger. On top of that, they were causing others to turn away from the truth.

If a preacher tries to persuade you that the Bible doesn’t really say what the Bible says, or attempts to explain away clear commands (such as the command to be baptized), then he is not teaching the truth. No one has the authority to change what has been revealed—not the Pope, not Joseph Smith, not even “an angel from heaven.”

Accept the truth. Trust Jesus and obey Him. Reject those who try to draw you away from Christ “to a different gospel.”

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

Mark 16:16. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Pray

Pray for the wisdom to discern right from wrong, using the good sense God gave you to reject those who teach error.