For Day 2 of our 2019 Wrapped plan, we asked our Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer, Amanda Bible Williams, to pick her favorite reading from the year. She chose the final day of our Galatians reading plan, Paul’s benediction to the church in Galatia.
Galatians Day 19 | Concluding Exhortation
At summer camp, I won an award for having curly hair. The curliest, naturally curly hair. I felt pretty proud of myself that night. The next morning at breakfast I assumed everyone was whispering, “Is that the curly hair queen?” Yes, yes, it is I!
Sigh.
And goodness, isn’t this about the level of all the things we boast about? Things we truly have no control over? We can certainly work hard and make good choices. But our eye color and our physical achievements, our successes and our relationships—aren’t all these things really just gifts from God?
Instead of boasting in what amounts to little more than circumstances from our birth, we are called to boast in the Lord (Galatians 6:14). And “the one who boasts should boast in this: that he understands and knows me—that I am the LORD, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things.This is the LORD’s declaration” (Jeremiah 9:24).
The Hebrew word for God’s “enduring, covenantal love” is hesed. In his book Inexpressible, Michael Card defines hesed beautifully as, “When the person from whom I have a right to expect nothing gives me everything.” Our boasting then, is to be in the undeserved and overwhelming love of Christ, who—while we were His enemies, helpless in our sin—gave His life for us, so that we could be children of God (Romans 5:6–11).
Paul’s benediction appeals to this same hesed, as he speaks to the Galatian church that had foolishly followed after the false teachings of the Judaizers, and wandered from the life of the Spirit. As he had earlier called on them to deal gently with those who are overtaken by sin, so also Paul deals gently with the Galatians. Why? Because Christ has dealt gently with Paul. And so Paul can boast in one thing only: the hesed of God, seen most clearly in the cross of Christ. He exhorts the Galatians to do the same.
The apostle then blesses the Galatians with a benediction that can only result from the steadfast love of God. Because of God’s undeserved and faithful love, we have fellowship with one another. We have restoration when we are overtaken in sin, and reconciliation with those we have offended, including Christ our Lord. Because of His love for us, we are part of the family of God, brothers and sisters, and co-heirs with Christ to the inheritance of God’s eternal kingdom.
Paul goes on to bless the Galatians with the grace of Christ, for it is His grace alone which saves, restores, sustains, secures, and transforms us into His own likeness. This He does by the work of His Spirit in our spirits, in our hearts, and in our minds. In Him, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The final note of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians is a resounding praise of Christ, in whom alone we boast. Next time you get ready to toot your own horn over your own achievements, remember that there’s no need to rejoice over ourselves, because our Creator already rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). Let His rejoicing over us be enough, and may we instead glory in Christ alone.
Thank you for these scriptures this morning. My spirit needed to hear this. We are all NEW creatures in Christ and what we have, acquire, or are is due to Christ. This should be a daily reminder that without Him we really are nothing. Thank you!
I don’t post often, but am thankful for all of you and lift you all up in prayer.
May God’s blessings overflow to each of you in 2020.
Liz A –I completely understand what you are going through. Over almost 40 years ago, I was in a relationship that was toxic for me, however unlike you, I knew it, but continued the relationship, because “I loved him” and “That love would change him.” There were about 7 years of our 21 years that I would call “happy”. After 2 sons, and a 21 year marriage I decided I had to leave for my boys. It was so difficult because I believed in my vows. However it wasn’t good for my sons and I know I should have left years before. After 7, years I married a man who I also had a toxic relationship with. Both of these marriages were what lead me to my relationship with Christ. I always believed, attended swervices, and taught religious ed, but never did I have the relationship I do now. I am still married, and although we don’t share the same kind of relationship with Christ, Christ has worked in our marriage and we have developed a respectful, loving life together. We have been together now 12 yrs and each year I see how the Lord is working on me….which in turn reflects in our marriage. HE is my reason for all things. I still see my ex, love him dearly and pray for nothing but the the best for him. My two sons have been damaged from what they went through. I know that will haunt me FOREVER. I know Christ’s blood has washed that sin away, but when I see the effect/affect it’s had on my boys, I don’t forget. ALL the blessings I have, which I’m unable to count are because of HIM!! Praying for you to stay focused on the Lord our God and allow HIM to bless you and show you what you can accomplish through HIM. Blessings to you!
Oh my how God’s Word is alive! I know that I read this in the initial Galatians plan,but reading again this morning God spoke to me in a whole different way. As someone who struggles with perfectionism and not feeling good enough, this was a perfect reminder that Christ is everything and all I need.
Thank you ladies for sharing. Although this is my first post here, I read, pray for and learn from you all daily.
Tina, so good to hear from you! You have been greatly missed and often thought of from “across the pond and half a continent” away! My heart aches for what you’ve experienced this year. I, too, lost my father, my Daddy, my Hero, to dementia this past year. Such a difficult journey that can only be traveled step by step with the Good Shepherd. Will pray for you and my SRT sisters as we face the new year together interpreting life through the lens of His Word.
Well said. Thank you for the reminder. ❤️
A good reminder for me. I enjoyed this.
So good to see you back Tina! I have missed seeing your comments! I lost my husband to cancer in June so 2109 was a hard year for me too but like you said, my Lord was there and has helped me through. Happy New Year 2020!