Tag Archives: Galatians 2:20

Gratitude From The Heart??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #495

02 Monday Nov 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Thankful, Thankfulness with joy!, Thanksgiving, That They May Know

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Gratitude From The Heart? A Word From THE WORD!!! #495

This is such an imperative of a godly life, but how do we live it out?  We must keep our eyes on the prize—Jesus and all HE has done for us.  Not just the gifts and blessings, but the sacrifice of The Son of God, who gave Himself a ransom to save all who will come to Him in repentance of sin, and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin, and eternal life for all who receive Him.

“Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

May we learn from Paul’s admonition to the Galatian believers; to know that Jesus died for us, therefore what less can we do than express our gratitude to Him each and every day before us—today, and today and another today!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

This is reiterated in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian believers, where he tells us who we are in Jesus!  Are you in HIM?  Are you grateful for His work of redemption in you?  I pray you are; and if you haven’t thought about it, that you will think about it as we ponder gratitude this month.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us

the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God  

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Thank you, Jesus for saving me; for imparting to me your righteousness by the blood of Jesus Christ my Lord.

Amen and Amen!!!

What Does God Expect??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #492

21 Wednesday Oct 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, God Knows, God Knows His Own, God of all comfort!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves, Jesus SinLESS Son of God

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What Does God Expect??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #492

 

Jesus makes it very clear that to know Him and follow Him, I must die to myself and be ready to live for Him, through His Holy Spirit, and walk the narrow path that leads to life, as my Lord directs my steps; but it requires the new birth! (See Matthew 7:13-14)

“Saying,

The Son of man must suffer many things,

and be rejected of the elders

and chief priests and scribes,

and be slain,

and be raised the third day.

23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life for my sake,

the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself,

or be cast away?”  Luke 9:22-25

Paul reiterated this very thought in his letter to the Galatian believers—not seeking to live a successful life on my own before the world–but being yielded to Jesus in my life, my all! This can only be done when we are enabled to live the “crucified” life—dying to self each day, and living unto Jesus; walking by faith and the direction of His Holy Spirit in all our ways.  Not easy but remember, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me…”!  Only by being born again of the Spirit of God!  Living the new birth on display before a lost and dying world in need of a Savior!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

The Apostle John explained this in his Gospel.

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:11-13

Jesus—what God gives to meet His own expectations; His very Son to die for my sin and yours, if we’ll but repent of our sin, in trust and believing in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—my sin; receiving the new birth, becoming “sons of God”!

God also spoke through His prophet Micah, with an amazing picture of the character of God, which Jesus came to replicate in us; not just keeping ten commandments, or ever the Law of Moses, but having His Spirit within us as His reborn, adopted children.  How about you, have you been to Calvary and received this new birth?  I pray that you have!

“Wherewith shall I come before the LORD,

and bow myself before the high God?

shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves of a year old?

7 Will the LORD be pleased

with thousands of rams,

or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He hath shewed thee, O man,

what is good;

and what doth the LORD require of thee,

but to do justly,

and to love mercy,

and to walk humbly

with thy God?”  Micah 6:6-8

I’ll close with Paul’s great contrast between the works of this flesh and the fruit of The Spirit (not something we work up, but the produce of the very presence of God within us!)! It’s all of, from, and unto God.

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord?

or who hath been his counsellor?

35 Or who hath first given to him,

and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”   Romans 11:34-36

Paul also reminded the Galatian believers that it’s all about God’s work, not ours! HIS grace, mercy and the payment for our sin! (And note there is no ‘s’ in “fruit”!)

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,

lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft,

hatred, variance, emulations,

wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness,

revellings, and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

 let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:19-25

All this because of Jesus’ work of redemption on the cross.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

Where are your steps leading?  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

It’s Not Easy??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #490

11 Sunday Oct 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Come And Worship?, Come to Jesus, Come To Worship HIM, His Mercies Are New Every Morning, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, If I be lifted up---, IN HIS TIME!, In Jesus name--means what?, Iron Sharpening Iron, Iron Sharpens Iron, It's All About The Cross, The Word

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It’s Not Easy??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #490

We often think following Jesus is simply easy; after all it just means “claiming” to know Him and using His name to get our own way!  What I’d like to share is the truth that Jesus Himself confronted and that is that people will follow as long as they “get it”, but when the road gets difficult, or when Jesus asks something hard of us, or when we realize that we are called to take up “our cross” and that the cross is an instrument of death to self, and life to Jesus.  Paul said it best, yet we so often make this something other than what Paul is calling us to (in reality it’s Jesus’ call to death to self and life in Him alone; and we’ll look at that also.)!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

As Jesus said, He came that we “might have life and have it more abundantly”!  That means the life of Jesus—that life which walks by The Spirit and not the flesh!  Yet we live in a culture that has removed the crucified life from Christianity!  Let’s consider what Jesus declares as truth.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

 let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

“And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.”  Luke 9:23

These statements remind us of what Jesus has called us to; but He said even more that I want us to focus on today; a passage that many overlook, for it challenges our ‘easy-believe-ism’.  Jesus call sus to commitment and devotion when we accept and believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin.  And before we take off into this passage, I want to make a very cursory observation in regard to Jesus’ blood and His flesh; verse 63 is worthy of our consideration; and remember that “quickeneth” means to give life—go back and reconsider Paul’s declaration in Galatians 2:20 above.

“44 No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day…

… 45 It is written in the prophets,

And they shall be all taught of God.

Every man therefore that hath heard,

and hath learned of the Father,

cometh unto me.

46 Not that any man hath seen the Father,

save he which is of God,

he hath seen the Father.

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you,

He that believeth on me

hath everlasting life.

48 I am that bread of life…

….53 Then Jesus said unto them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Except ye eat the flesh

of the Son of man,

and drink his blood,

ye have no life in you.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh,

and drinketh my blood,

hath eternal life;

and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For my flesh is meat indeed,

and my blood is drink indeed…

…58 This is that bread which came down

from heaven:

not as your fathers did eat manna,

and are dead:

he that eateth of this bread

shall live for ever.

59 These things said he in the synagogue,

as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples,

when they had heard this, said,

This is an hard saying;

who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself

that his disciples murmured at it,

he said unto them,

Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see

the Son of man ascend up

where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you,

they are spirit,

and they are life.” Portions of John 6:44-63

I pray that you will read and take in this passage, and use it to assess what we are following; and are we living on Jesus’ broken body and blood or our own ways? The people who had been following Him, found these words too hard to accept.  How about you and me?  Will we hold on to the truth or give in to something else because it’s hard?  May we ponder Jesus’ words of truth and choose wisely.

It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!  And Jesus IS the only right answer!

Amen and Amen!!!

Dry Bones Or Life??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #485

21 Monday Sep 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Life, Life or Death?, Lifting up Jesus, Light In The Dark, Living TODAY!, Looking Unto Jesus, My Grace Is Sufficient, My Help Cometh from THE LORD

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Dry Bones Or Life??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #485

Let’s talk about life—real life—the life which Jesus promised that HE IS—was and ever shall be.  Let’s take a look at Ezekiel’s experience and see what we can learn from it.

“The hand of the LORD was upon me,

and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD,

and set me down in the midst of the valley

which was full of bones,

2 And caused me to pass by them round about:

and, behold, there were very many

in the open valley;

and, lo, they were very dry.

3 And he said unto me,

Son of man,

can these bones live?

And I answered,

O Lord GOD, thou knowest.

4 Again he said unto me,

Prophesy upon these bones,

and say unto them,

O ye dry bones,

hear the word of the LORD.

5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones;

Behold,

I will cause breath to enter into you,

and ye shall live:

6 And I will lay sinews upon you,

and will bring up flesh upon you,

and cover you with skin,

and put breath in you,

and ye shall live;

and ye shall know

that I am the LORD.

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded:

and as I prophesied,

there was a noise,

and behold a shaking,

and the bones came together,

bone to his bone.

8 And when I beheld, lo,

the sinews and the flesh came up upon them,

and the skin covered them above:

but there was no breath in them.

9 Then said he unto me,

Prophesy unto the wind,

prophesy, son of man,

and say to the wind,

Thus saith the Lord GOD;

Come from the four winds,

O breath,

and breathe upon

these slain,

that they may live.

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me,

and the breath came into them,

and they lived,

and stood up upon their feet,

an exceeding great army.”  Ezekiel 37:1-10

This is one of my favorite Bible accounts, and I even like the old gospel song that describes this episode.  The thing that I want us to consider is the likeness to our situations so often in our walk through this life.  How often do we feel like “dry bones”, and much like Israel we complain about our circumstances, our trials or our expectations?  Yet what God teaches us through Ezekiel (and understand this was a picture that God painted through Ezekiel to try to make the the people of Israel see, that only HE, God, could give them new life and He wanted to!) is that God knows how dry we are, and He is ready and willing to give us new life!  It’s why Jesus came!  So, where does the life come from?

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man

pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

Paul makes it clear for us that spiritually we are dead without Jesus, and just fyi, “quickened” means to make alive.

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy,

for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)”                   Ephesians 1:1-5

(I encourage you to read Ephesians 2:8-10, even better read all of Ephesians 2!)

When we receive Jesus by faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin, we receive new, eternal life and forgiveness, as Paul told the Colossians, Jesus is our life!

“And you,

being dead in your sins

and the uncircumcision of your flesh,

hath he quickened together with him,

having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting

of ordinances that was against us,

which was contrary to us,

and took it out of the way,

nailing it to his cross;”    Colossians 2:13-14

Paul also shares one of my favorite verses of confidence and hope and I pray that it will encourage you even in that valley of dry bones that may be surrounding you; and just as God told Ezekiel to prophecy to the dry bones, I believe that Paul is reminding us that Jesus is our hope, and it is HIS power that created life, and can also give us new life by the new birth given by faith in the sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary (life for the dry bones!).

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Are you living in Jesus’ power?  I pray that this post will remind you that the only way to life IS JESUS!!!  Have you received the new birth?  If not, you can call on Jesus today.  If you are born again, remember that you belong to the creator of all, The One who died for your sin and mine, and gives us real life , eternal life in exchange!!!  It’s Jesus’ power that enables is to have real life in HIM!  Paul makes this abundantly clear.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

Dry bones or life?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth, and

the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

 Amen and Amen!!!

Rehearsing Or Regretting??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #455

29 Friday May 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Blessed by God, Bloom Where You're Planted!, Born Again, Bow Before our God, GET READY, Gifts of the Spirit., Give Us This Day, Giving and Sharing, Giving or Getting, Giving Or Taking?, Giving Thanks to God!, Saved FROM Sin, Seeing Truth, Self-sufficient or Dependent on Jesus?, Sharing Our Faith!, Sharing the blessings, Sharing What God Has Given, Shine as lights in the world, SMILE!!! Jesus loves YOU!!, Smiling is contagious, Someone is following you!, Sorrow

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Rehearsing Or Regretting?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #455

As I’ve been thinking about the truth that we have freedom to choose—not only in this country we live in, but more importantly before our God.  We can choose to be born again, or we can reject Jesus and His gift of salvation.  We can choose whether we will serve Him in faithfulness or serve ourselves, extending into so many areas of life.

Having lost my husband recently, I can look back knowing that we chose to live our lives with few regrets.  We served our Lord, and we faithfully served each other, and others whom we had the opportunity to serve when there was a need.  One of the things I loved about my husband was his heart to help others, and he was generous to a fault, it’s one of the things I learned to love and appreciate in him.  And I can truthfully say that we tried to live so as to have few regrets, and by God’s grace, direction and help we were, I think, rather successful at it.

In my grief and loss, my hope and intent is to follow Jesus in this same manner of life.  We don’t have to have unlimited resources, but we do need an unlimited heart of compassion and openness to whatever God directs us to be and do!  It’s so much better to rejoice in what we have shared with others—not just family but with any God brings across our path.  God’s Word says it better than I can.  And I pray that you will share your life with those around you (yourself not just your possessions), before it’s too late and they are gone.  We can never get back those missed opportunities—of our time shared, our resources used to honor God and help others, or our love to others, especially those who need to see Jesus in us (for remember people are watching whether you notice it or not!)!

Paul’s example sets the bar high!

“I have coveted no man’s

silver, or gold, or apparel.

34 Yea, ye yourselves know,

that these hands have ministered

unto my necessities,

and to them that were with me.

35 I have shewed you all things,

how that so labouring

ye ought to support the weak,

and to remember the words

of the Lord Jesus,

how he said,

It is more blessed to give

than to receive.”  Acts 20:33-35

We are to have a heart attitude of giving not just getting. Yes, we are to work to provide for our needs and to share what we have.  I’m reminded of one of my husband’s favorite sayings about what we’re not to be or do: “Get all you can, can what you get, and sit on the can!”  Food for thought.

“6 But godliness with contentment

is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world,

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment

let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich

fall into temptation and a snare,

and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,

which drown men

in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money

is the root of all evil:

which while some coveted after,

they have erred from the faith,

and pierced themselves through

with many sorrows.”  1 Timothy 6:6-10

It’s not money that is evil, but Paul reminds us that it is the “love of money” that is the pitfall of many.

Jesus put it this way to those around Him.

“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them,

Whosoever will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it;

but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake

and the gospel’s,

the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man,

       if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:34-36

All of our choices matter, and when it comes to relationships, Jesus is the defining choice!  If we are following Jesus, we are called to keep our eyes fixed on HIM and when we take up our cross, that isn’t our daily trials or troubles—it means I die to self and live to and for Jesus, treating others, as Jesus said, as I’d like to be treated; and no one wants to be neglected or forgotten!  Remember that, so your tomorrows won’t be filled with regret for words not spoken, visits not made, or relationships not attended to.

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

And just a few scriptures that I hope you’ll find encouraging and helpful today!  Work on those relationship skills!

“Then he said unto them,

Go your way,

eat the fat,

and drink the sweet,

and send portions unto them

for whom nothing is prepared:

for this day is holy unto our Lord:

neither be ye sorry;

for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”Nehimiah 8:10-(reading this whole chapter will bless you!)

And a couple of passages with advice and encouragement from the Apostle Paul.

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth

in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly,

or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound

toward you;

that ye, always

having all sufficiency in all things,

may abound to every good work:” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

“Let him that is taught in the word

communicate unto him that teacheth

in all good things.

7 Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary

in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity,

let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them

who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:7-10

Let’s live each day rehearsing God’s Word and the grace that HE has bestowed upon us, rather than living only for self, leading to a boat load of regret one day.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test. (And perhaps coming very soon!)

Amen and Amen!!!