Tag Archives: Galatians 2:20

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!!!

Christmas Fortnight Day 10 A Word from THE WORD! #422

21 Sunday Dec 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Abundant Life In Jesus, All Sufficient God!, Approved Unto God, Baby in the manger, Be not conformed to this world, Gifts of the Spirit., Giving and Sharing, Giving or Getting, Giving Or Taking?, Giving Thanks to God!, Glitz, Glory To God, God's Ability for our Inability!, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth

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Christmas Fortnight Day 10   A Word from THE WORD! #422

Here we are –only a few days until Christmas Day.  A question.  Which do you enjoy most, giving or receiving gifts?  Of course we all love to receive gifts, it’s nice to know that someone cares about us enough to give a gift.  But when I give, why do I give?  To receive, to be noticed, obligation??

I think the key is to remember the GREATEST GIFT!!

John 3:16 reminds us,

“For God so loved the world,

that HE GAVE

HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,

that whosoever believeth in HIM

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.”

God loved us and gave HIS SON to die for us.  What do we give?  Some of us choose and give the perfect gift for each person according to their needs or likes.  Others of us buy a dozen of some great bargain and give one to each person on our list.  Now each style of giving has it’s positives and negatives.  But what is important?  Money, self, time?

1 Peter 4:9-10 says,

“Use hospitality

one to another

without grudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift,

even so minister the same

one to another,

as good stewards

of the manifold grace of God...”

This refers to spiritual gifts, but I think we can learn a lot about giving here.

We are to be hospitable-‘friendly & welcoming to strangers and friends’.

We are to give as we have received,

“For unto whomsoever much is given,

of him shall be much required….” (Lk 12:48b).

In a word—YOURself.   God gave Jesus–I can give ME!!

Don’t get caught up in “price” or “vogue”.  Is there someone who’d love to hear your voice, spend time with YOU, have your help for a difficult task?   Maybe just a visit from YOU?

Think about it!! Is there someone on your list who just needs YOUR time?  Is there someone you need to call today?  Is there someone who needs a token of your LOVE?

Stop!!  Think!!  Listen to your heart!! 

Then just DO IT!

 As Jesus Himself said to us before He went to the cross, so may we live for HIM!

“Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life

for his friends.”  John 15:13

And Paul said it better than I.

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

How Close To Calvary??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #404

13 Thursday Nov 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Cross, Crucified With Christ, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Study to Show Yourself Approved Unto God, Take Up YOUR Cross, The Mind Of Christ, The Name of Jesus?, The Only Name That Matters

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How Close To Calvary??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #404

I want us to consider where we stand in relation to the cross of Jesus; how close is my walk to that cross?  Am I so far away from the import of the cross that it pales in comparison to the focus of my life?   Is Jesus and His work of redemption the thing that holds my heart, or is the world so important to me that I have lost sight of the cross, in other words, how big is my cross?  Am I so far away from it that its import has shrunken into oblivion?  The cross is what Jesus calls us to cling to, as both Matthew and Luke record this discourse for us.

“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

“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?

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me

and of my words,

of him shall the Son of man be ashamed,

when he shall come in his own glory,

and in his Father’s,

and of the holy angels.”  Luke 9:22-26

What does Jesus tell us?  He says that if we desire to come after Him—to follow Him—we must “deny” ourselves, in other words, put Jesus first over our own desires.  Jesus doesn’t stop there, for He goes on to say that we are to take up our “cross daily”; remembering that the cross is an instrument of death—we are to die to self and live to Jesus Christ The Lord each and every day, following Him!  Not following the fads, or the trends, or the call of our flesh to be popular, wealthy, powerful, or influential in this world.  Paul said it better than I can.

“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

To take up our cross means to die to self and live unto Jesus in all that we do.  Jesus is to be the heartbeat of all we say and do!  Not an easy task, but one that we can do when we walk with The Lord by the power of His Spirit within us.  The indwelling Holy Spirit is the evidence that we belong to Jesus, and in his power, we are enabled to take up our cross and live for Jesus!

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life

because of righteousness.”  Romans 8:8-10

By Christ’s sacrifice upon the cross He bought our righteousness with His own blood; so that all who come to Him in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice receive His righteousness in place of our sin, all by His precious blood!

“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 5:19-21

We are privileged to know the love of The Son of God, who poured out His own blood to pay for my sin and yours—payment for all who will believe in His sacrificial payment for sin, made on the cross of Calvary!  What have you done with His grace and mercy to pay for your sin?  Do you know Him?  Have you received His grace and mercy in salvation.

“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

The question is how close are you to Calvary?  Have you been there for salvation?  If you are saved, are you carrying your cross in faith and devotion to the Lord of all—Jesus Christ the Lord?

In closing, we can choose to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, we can choose the broad road or the narrow way—destruction or life!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test—and the cross and God’s Word are the standard!

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary the one to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things that ye would…

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.” Portions of Galatians 5:16-25

Amen and Amen!!!