Praise the Lord everyone. We are in a place that is so awesome today. Regardless of what you are going through right now, you are a loved child of the one and only GOD. That is a cause to rejoice.
Today’s Prayer
Father, I pray for all my brothers and sisters in Christ who are sharing in this meal today. I pray that You will speak to special needs in their lives; that You will teach them; that You will bless them as they serve You today. Someone may be hurting emotionally or physically. I pray that You will provide peace, comfort, and healing. Someone may have a financial need. I pray that You will provide a way and open a door to meet that need. Lord, whatever unspoken request may be on their hearts, You know. I pray that You will answer those heart cries in the way You know is best. Thank you, GOD, for listening and for Your answers to prayer. Love, in JESUS’ name, Amen.
Let’s eat.
The Law and Faith in Christ
Galatians 3:1-14
Oh, foolish Galatians! What magician has cast an evil spell on you? For you used to see the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death as clearly as though I had shown you a signboard with a picture of Christ dying on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Of course not, for the Holy Spirit came upon you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ. Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? You have suffered so much for the Good News. Surely it was not in vain, was it? Are you now going to just throw it all away? I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law of Moses? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. In the same way, “Abraham believed God, so God declared him righteous because of his faith.” The real children of Abraham, then, are all those who put their faith in God. What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would accept the Gentiles, too, on the basis of their faith. God promised this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” And so it is: All who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all these commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” Consequently, it is clear that no one can ever be right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” How different from this way of faith is the way of law, which says, “If you wish to find life by obeying the law, you must obey all of its commands.” But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Through the work of Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, and we Christians receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
Quote of the Day
Everything
that a man leans upon but God, will be a dart that will certainly
pierce his heart through and through. He, who leans only upon Christ,
lives the highest, choicest, safest, and sweetest life.
Thomas Brooks
REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION
– THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY