#DailyDevo Galatians 1:11-17

For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. | Galatians 1:11

To remind the people in Galatia that the grace of God – not the Law – is the one that gave salvation to the Jews and Gentiles, Paul recounted his personal conversion experience back when he was still practicing Judaism.

Paul was once called the persecutor of Christians because practicing the traditions of his ancestors gave him an excuse to persecute the faith of the church. His prior commitment to the law magnifies the element of grace in the gospel. He was transformed when he finally understood who Christ is and what the gospel is for. He experienced everything first-hand because He encountered Jesus.

The message of the gospel that Paul is preaching was something that he witnessed from his personal life. The grace that he received that made him follow the Lord completely was too powerful. It is something that the Law cannot cut through — Grace that is the outpouring love of Christ. It’s beyond understanding.

It was important for the Galatians to understand that the gospel is rooted in grace. Not in accomplishment. Not in perfect obedience. Not in birthright or social standing. God’s grace doesn’t discriminate.

Kelley Brown, Called By Christ

The Lord is able to turn around our histories into His stories. If we will choose to follow Him and surrender everything to Him, no matter how we messed up in the past, He will make His message in us flourish.

REFLECTION: How has your understanding of God’s extravagant grace affected your faith journey?

I am forever unworthy of the kind of love and grace that the Lord had shown and given and continuously showering me. The reality of who I am and the reality of who He actually is — makes me humble. When the Lord says that there’s nothing that we can do for Him to stop loving us, it gives me the assurance that I am safe and accepted. He is the only one who can accept the whole me. All the ugly, angry, broken, and scarred me.

I don’t even understand how He could afford to give that kind of extravagant grace. Especially to someone whose faith could sometimes waver. Being a Christian as young as I can remember, I am still trying to grow my character until now. Having Him standing by all of those seasons of my life — I don’t know how He could watch it when I intentionally ignore Him and dishonor His name. And then, when I realized I had to come back because I cannot survive on my own and I need Him, He’s just there welcoming me once again. It always feels like coming home.

I don’t understand how He could love like that. I don’t understand the extent at which He is willing to stay, but He always made me feel that I have a Father. And my Father is my place of shelter. I don’t know what to do if I don’t have the Lord. I’d probably be so empty and shallow and always bringing dark clouds everywhere I go. Because that’s how I feel when I detach from Him. He’s my lifesaver. He’s my battery. He’s my source of strength and the reason why I’m living.

Devo Background via First5: Called By Christ

#DailyDevo Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. | Galatians 1:10

Abiding in God’s standard doesn’t always gain popularity with that of the world. There would be times when we would have to take a clear stand on a certain principle or issue because that’s where our faith and purpose called us to. We might face pressure, judgment or persecution but we must be fervent in choosing to please God rather than men.

Seeking human approval could take us somewhere but living ultimately for Christ gives us the truth and true freedom — this is what Paul is telling the church in Galatia.

REFLECTION: Whose acceptance are you seeking? What can you do today to live for an audience of one?

There are times that I still choose to please people rather than being an authentic follower of Christ. I tend to project something “Christian” because I know when people see it, they would praise me for it. I am performing my faith for them which we shouldn’t do as true followers of Christ. That kind of faith is problematic because we tend to be like the Pharisees who think high and mighty of themselves [in terms of their faith] and making sure others knew that they were high and mighty. I fall in that same trap whenever I don’t keep my focus on the Lord.

Living for an audience of One is what Matthew 6:33 says — seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. Devoting ourselves to fully commit to knowing Him deeper than we had ever known Him before. To never stop immersing in His Word and soaking it in. To walk the walk He did. To mirror an image of Christ to the people within our reach.

We need to seek Him and sink deep in His love and grace.

Devo Background via First5: Audience of One

#DailyDevo Galatians 1:6-9

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! | Galatians 1:6-9

The Christians in Galatia had been confused by the gospel that is being shared with them by a group called Judaizers. The group was teaching them that it is necessary to adopt certain Jewish customs and practices – based specifically in the Law of Moses – in order for people to be saved. This is contrary to what Paul had already shared with the Galatians in the past.

In the present day, false teachings about the gospel are still shared and circulated. If we don’t know where our faith is anchored, we could be swayed easily. Paul is giving us a warning that not even an angel from heaven can come and preach a gospel that is contrary to what Christ had done on the cross; our salvation is only merited by grace through faith.

God had sent His one and only Son – Jesus Christ – to die on the cross for our sins because we cannot fulfill the Law of Moses. We always fall short. But we must remember that the Law and Grace of God go hand in hand.

In the Old Testament, the way people atone for their sins [because they haven’t fulfilled the Law] is by sacrificing a lamb, a ram, or an ox. This is the only way to pay for sin – shedding blood – for the wages of sin is death. Jesus came as the sacrificial lamb of God to die on our behalf so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

If we accepted Christ, does it mean we still have to keep the Law? The answer is yes. Is our salvation dependent on failing to keep the Law? The answer is no. Does it mean we won’t sin anymore? High chance that we will still do. But our sins are already paid in full because the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 — if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the former things had passed away [our old self], behold, new things had come [our new self in Christ].

Let’s be keen on the teachings that we listen to. We must always countercheck it with what’s written in God’s Word.

REFLECTION: Have you ever put expectations on yourself or others that Jesus never put on you? What happened as a result?

Whenever I had committed something that I’m shameful about — a favorite sin that I kept repeating over and over — I had a tendency in me to not go back to Christ [and ask for forgiveness] until I can fix myself first and I had successfully removed the sin out of my system. This line of thinking, of course, is not something that the Lord is expecting from me. This is my own way of wanting to earn the spot into being a rightful child of God. I am trying to win brownie points by coming to God once I am sinless — which would always be far from happening.

The expectation I had imposed on myself resulted to weeks of spiritual drainage. If it’s a sin that I had kept on doing in the past, it is a cycle already. I am in bondage from years and years of doing that sin. It is impossible to wash it away in just a few days or weeks. Hence, trying to get rid of the sin for me to deserve my place in Christ is a hopeless case. I can never do it on my own. Besides, if I would only come to Christ after I’m clean, then, what would I need His precious blood for?

Eventually, I learned that the Lord did not expect us to be perfect after we had accepted His saving grace. We are in a fallen world where the flesh and spirit battle. No matter how hard we try, there will be times that we will choose to fail the Lord and disobey His commands. There will be times that we will champion our own desires instead of sticking to where He wanted us to be. There will be times that we would run away from Him and shut the door in front of His face. There will be times that we would be such a huge mess. And still, when we turn around, He would gladly open His arms in love and full acceptance of all that who we are, what we had done, and what we had become.

Yes, we will bear the consequences of our actions. But He promised that His mercies are new every morning. When He said that He has a covenant with us, that meant Him keeping it even if we suddenly decided that we don’t want it anymore. He will always be waiting for us to come home.

Devo Background via First5: Spiritual Scrutinizing

#DailyDevo Galatians 1:1-5

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

Galatians 1:1-5

We’re starting a new series in First 5 today! We are now in Galatians. I’m quite familiar with this book since we have a study tool on Galatians that we use in our Discipleship Groups at church.

The Book of Galatians is about Paul’s encouragement about the message of the gospel. Galatia is Paul’s second missionary journey and he knew Galatians by heart since he worked closely with them in the ministry of Christ. The reason why Paul wrote them a letter was because people in Galatia were distracted by false teachings and they were falling away from the gospel that has been taught to them. Paul had to redirect their focus to the truth of the message of Christ and the mission they had in Christ.

In the first five verses of Chapter 1, Paul introduced himself as an apostle. The position is not something that Paul is bragging about, instead, he wanted them to realize the importance of the title: an apostle was a witness of Christ and was sent by Him to teach and spread the gospel to the world.

Paul started his letter with a greeting of grace and peace to the people of Galatia — a gentle reminder of the truth that they had previously learned. Galatians knew that they had been saved by grace through faith and that peace is only found in Christ. However, their current state of false preachings left them confused.

When we find ourselves off track, God is always there with His grace to align us with His truth and His deliverance to bring us back home.

Christina Patterson, Knowing the Source of Your Calling

Paul is giving them a warning and a reminder.

In our journey, sometimes we are a Paul; and at one point, we are the Galatians. When we finally understood the gospel, it is our duty to deepen our faith. We will be encountering a lot of Galatians along the way and we should be like a Paul to them — guiding them firmly on the way they should go.

REFLECTION: How does knowing who you are in Christ affect how you view yourself?

When I was younger, I was often told that I frown so much. Fast forward twenty years after, I realized that the default emotion of my face is serious. If I just let myself be, the normal me would look like the sad or depressing kind of serious. Maybe that’s why when I was younger they concluded that I just frown too much. That judgment left a mark in me. It made me feel that I was never physically attractive because of my face. But it also made me develop a happier and funnier personality because I wanna prove them wrong: frowning is not my natural state because I am a happy person.

Growing up, happy became who I am. I love to have fun or make fun of things that could bring people laughter. I make the environment around me feel lighter. Yet, deep inside me is that child who grew with insecurity and low self-esteem. The child who just wanted to be the pretty one. The child who just wanted people to praise her for how she looked. That child only understood confidence when she met and experienced Christ.

I was around 12 or 13 years old when I went to a youth camp at church. In that camp, I never knew that that could be the moment when I would meet God up close and personal. Being in a Christian home, Christianity is something that I knew in my head. It was only during the youth camp that Christianity made its way through my heart. It was an experience that I can never explain because there is no exact reason as to why I just cried my heart out in one of the testimonies. And I was still crying even when I was about to sleep that night. I was tearing up but I was also very much in peace.

From then on, I started to understand my identity in Christ. The standards of this world differ from the standards of God. Time to time, I still get insecure and throw myself pity parties; but when I choose to look at Christ, I knew that I was chosen, loved, and accepted beyond measure. He saw all the potential in me even when I’m covered with sin and imperfection. He embraced me along with all the thorns that I grew inside my chest. He takes them away bit by bit, pruning and nurturing me as I learn to breathe and take root in His love.

When we finally experience the kind of love that Christ has to offer, we will never understand the depths of it. Experiencing that love compels us to do more than just staying within the bounds of our comfort. That Love will help us to be fearless in the path of our purpose to bring more people in Christ. Just like what Paul did with the Galatians.

Devo Background via First5: Knowing the Source of Your Calling

How can we last?

Filipinos are resilient. Give them a pandemic and a government who fall short of service and all aspects of control, yet, they will find a way to make ends meet. Being jobless won’t cripple them. They will rise to the occassion with their skill that is built in brave confidence. Some who had more would be a vessel of blessing to those who had less. They will gather in groups and make a campaign to encourage people to contribute so we can all fill-in where we are lacking. Some do it in a larger scale while some are quietly sending help to the nearest person they can — relative to relative; friend to friend; strangers after strangers. This is ingrained in us, we keep bayanihan alive this way.

Filipinos find humor amidst the dark cloud around them. Give them something to be angry about and the next thing you know, they made memes and TikTok covers about it. They translate emotions into products that could help them escape the gravity of things. Reality is a tiring world. Laughing about it makes it more bearable for a nation who’s always been punched to the core with nothing left to give. Or maybe, a nation that is too jaded to dare or even try to fight. Continually being pinned down to the idea that nothing’s ever gonna change. Hence, we resolved to laugh our way instead. But then, even when it seemed hopeless, Filipinos will muster up the courage to fight again. For their rights. For their fellow Filipino’s rights. For what needs to be done in their country.

Filipinos are opinionated. Give them an issue and they will never back down. They can be furious and they could think that their opinion is absolutely correct and they knew better than their opposing side. Too opinionated that we tend to stop listening. We tend to cancel each other instead of educating one another. We tend to disregard the agreeing to disagree principle. On the other side of the spectrum, Filipinos are indifferent. We don’t want to be part of a troublesome narrative anymore. That as long as it doesn’t affect us, we won’t care and be so involved in it. We just wanted to go by on our own.

Filipinos are forgetful and at times, very short-term. They can have too many hopes for a clean government but then forgetting they had a role to play. They forget it takes to two to tango. A clean government can only be elected when people choose them. Yet even if a previous politician just went out of jail and proceeds to run for a position, his dance moves can land him a spot to the Senate. We are who we elect. When we don’t learn, we are bound to continue the pain of repeating the cycle over and over. Change in the government is directly proportional to the change we choose as people. We can scrutinize but we also have to take the responsibility and the discipline.

My heart is aching and breaking. I can’t hold back my tears.

Me an hour ago before writing down my feelings

There are a lot of political issues that make us go all over the place these days. While the whole world is busy combating the pandemic, what do we do here in the Philippines? We are closing down the biggest TV network, we are coming after journalists, we can’t wait to pass a bill that are opposed by many, we tolerate double standards from government officials, we keep changing the policies of a community quarantine — all these except finding a way to really survive. All the other factors outside of our homes remains the same. How can we last?

I hope that our government would step up. I don’t know how and what could motivate them to do so but I don’t want them to fail in these critical times. IF ONLY THEY COULD DRIVE THEIR FOCUS TO OUR MAIN GOAL, we could have a chance. I hope Filipinos will learn. An uncapable government during a pandemic is a hard pill to swallow because we put them there but when this is over, I hope we won’t forget. PLEASE LET US NOT FORGET.

People like me have a privilege of finding a way to vent things out. Others, at this very same moment, can’t even think of that because every day they worry where to get their next meal to feed their families.

Disappointment is the word today. I hope everything’s better when we wake up tomorrow.

2AM.

ever since
the pandemic came
my nights had been longer

my thoughts
rushed back and forth
like waves –
keeping me awake

will the circles
under my eyes
be my constant company
until all of this is over

#DailyDevo: 2 Chronicles 34

We resemble what we revere, either for our ruin or restoration.

G. K. Beale, We Become What We Worship

After the fall of Amon, his son became king in his place. King Josiah was a man who sought the Lord at such an early age and continued doing so with humility as he grew. King Josiah’s seeking resulted in repairing the temple of the Lord, which led to the discovery of the Book of the Law.

Hilkiah, the priest, was the first to unearth it and referred to it by its proper name. He, then, gave it to Secretary Shaphan who plainly referred to it as “a book” before he handed it over to Josiah. When the Book of Law was handed over to the king, he tore his clothes. In the Old Testament, tearing one’s clothes is a sign of grief.

Why did Josiah tear his clothes when the Law was read?

As the Book of the Law was read in public for the first time in nearly 60 years, King Josiah tore his clothes as a sign of his grief. He grieved when he realized that he, as the nation’s leader, had not been fulfilling the commandments of the Lord.

ESV.org

King Josiah knew the importance of the Book of the Law. From then on, he honored it by humbly receiving correction and wisdom from the Word of God which impacted the heart of the entire nation.

If we truly believe the Bible is the living Word of the one true and holy God, we won’t just read it; we’ll let it read us. It will breathe fresh life into us, rearrange our wrong thinking, redirect our wayward heart tendencies, and cause us to become more and more humble with each interaction.

Lysa TerKeust, The Best Way to Approach the Word of God

REFLECTION: Do you ever feel resistant to the things God calls you to in His Word? How can you press past that resistance and allow Him to reorient your heart to His Truth?

I am most resistant when it comes to humility and forgiveness. When the Lord asks me to change the way I feel about a certain person or situation and I don’t like to obey — maybe because it’s something that hurt me, made me angry or anxious — or basically, when He asks me to do things in His way and not my way, I’m very resistant. That whole thing might be under the need of being in control. Over time, the Lord only gives us instructions that are good for our souls. Most of the time, the very thing that we wanted – especially when we get too emotional – is not what’s best for us at the moment. When we read the Bible, it guides us to know how to respond to life and it also uncovers and reveals who we truly are. The urge to resist is always present.

We have different truths in our minds based on how we see things. To push past the resistance, as cliche as it may sound: obedience is key. Our church always reminds us that even though we don’t like or we don’t feel doing things for the Lord, we have to take a leap of faith and do it anyway. The doing precedes the feeling. For example, in my area of humility and forgiveness, the only way I can be humble and forgiving is when I actually practice it. We don’t depend on our feelings to practice and grow in our character. Our emotion is a gift from the Lord but it shouldn’t be taking control of us. In reality, I like to be in control; the only way I can let the Lord take over is when I learn to surrender. Surrendering everything to the Lord, admitting that we cannot do it on our own – even we are very [and wrongfully] convinced that we can – and obeying Him every step of the way could push back the resistance and help us reorient our truth to His Truth.

Devo Background via First5: The Best Way to Approach the Word of God

#DailyDevo: 2 Chronicles 33

When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. | 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

After Hezekiah, his son Manasseh became the king of Judah. Unlike his father who walked uprightly before the Lord, Manasseh committed to doing evil in the sight of the Lord. He rebuilt high places which his father had broken down; erected altars to worship false gods; worshipped idols inside God’s temple; sacrificed his sons to these false gods; practiced sorcery, witchcraft, divination; his reign led his people astray. 2 Chronicles 33:1-9

But then one day, when Manasseh became a captive in Babylon, he humbled his heart before the Lord and repented. The Lord kept His promise and restores Mannaseh to the throne. From then on, Manasseh turned 180-degree from his wicked ways and made a tremendous effort to rebuilt and restore what he previously destroyed.

When his son, Amon, succeeded him from the throne, he did the same wicked ways as his father and multiplied it. But unlike Manasseh, Amon did not humble himself. He did not change from his wicked ways. Thus, the people conspired to kill him and made his son, Josiah, king in his place.

REFLECTION: When have you struggled like Manasseh? Perhaps letting negative influences creep in, leading others astray or ignoring God’s call? How did you return to the Lord, or how can you take steps to make it right today?

As humans, we are very flawed and although we try to do the things of the Lord, at some point we still forget and go on our own way.

I am in so many ways like Manasseh. I knew what is wrong in the sight of the Lord.  I knew that disobedience is costly. I knew that the Lord only wanted what’s good for me to direct me to the path where He could use me and bring other people with me to Him. I knew that God’s love is sovereign and that when we repent from our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us from our sins. I knew that God’s ability to forgive shouldn’t make it easy for me to commit and enjoy doing what is not right. 

Even when I knew these things in my mind, I still do what is wrong and disobey Christ directly. Sometimes, I’m making God’s love as an excuse that I’ll be forgiven after committing the sin and asking for forgiveness. I abuse God’s privilege as His daughter every time I see fit. Yet, when the time comes that my heart cannot take any more of the guilt, the fear, and the shame — and I once again, humble my heart before the Lord, He gives me another chance. He never fails.

For You have loved me, though I have failed you, over and over.

Bread of Life, Citipointe Live

Then I try to go back to the path where He wants to take me. Not relying on my own strength or will to do it right this time but on His power that He can unchain me from the bondage that I tied myself around so tightly. I pray that I will continue to focus on Him because every single time that I get distracted and look around me, I always end up messing up again. I am not perfect and I know I am going to willfully commit something that I told the Lord I wont’ do again, but I pray that I would be getting up and doing better. Depending on Him every step of the way. After all, there’s nothing I can do apart from Christ.

Devo Background via First5: But Wait, There’s More!

#DailyDevo: 2 Chronicles 32

“Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. | 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

Second Chronicles 32 talks about God’s deliverance to the people of Judah through King Hezekiah from King Sennacherib of Assyria.

The king of Assyria invaded and besieged Judah. Hezekiah was quick to think of ways to protect Judah and prepare for battle. While Sennacherib was arrogant and trusting greatly only on his own strength and power, Hezekiah’s confidence was not in the army of men but in the presence of God. All the threat and questioning of Sennacherib in God’s ability to deliver His people was put to an end when the Lord sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria making him return in shame to his own land. 2 Chronicles 32:21

Even as Hezekiah was faithful to the Lord, he was not spared from a terrifying enemy.

Our acts of faithfulness don’t insulate us from hard times. Our faithfulness doesn’t keep enemies away, but God’s faithfulness ensures every enemy’s defeat. For those who belong to Christ, every battle ends with God’s victory. In every trial, we can place our confidence in these words of Jesus: ‘Take heart; I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33

Marissa Henley, Confidence in the Deliverer

REFLECTION: In which area of your life do you need God to grow your confidence in Him? How does His past deliverance of His people strengthen your faith in His power at work in your life?

I related with how Hezekiah lived his life. There was a time that his heart turned proud that the wrath of God came upon Judah and Jerusalem. However, he decided to be humble before the Lord again and God forgave him and made him prosper. 

In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to the Lord, and the Lord spoke to him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah. | 2 Chronicles 32:24-26

As I said in my prayer journal earlier today, I always run away from God when I feel guilty or shameful about something that I did.  I feel like, most of those times, I am not worthy. That I need to pick myself up first before I can come to God. That, at least, I had already fixed myself before I go back. But then, time and time again I forget that: I cannot fix myself. That my being broken, desperate, and full of guilt and shame — it is only Christ who can take me in and embrace me with His grace and mercy. He died on the cross two thousand years ago for the sins of men because we cannot save ourselves from who we are. We are in need of a Savior. No matter what we do, it will not suffice. God is the only One who can make things right in our lives because He is our Father, our Creator, our Sovereign, and Loving God. I need to grow my confidence in my dependence on Christ. I need to learn to truly depend on Him, to embrace my faith in full. When we come in humility, the Lord will always direct our steps. He did it with Hezekiah and Jerusalem. He won’t be stopping today or tomorrow.

Devo Background via First5: Confidence in the Deliverer