“But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles)” (Galatians 2:7-8)

There is One Lord and one faith.  We work for the same Lord.  The devil has been good at getting the faithful to rip into one another over the things upon which they do not agree.  Our faith is focused upon our Lord, so look to Him and give thanks that You have been called through Him by faith and grace into the eternal life which He has prepared for those who believe.  We are all of the same heritage in believing the Good News.

Lord, whether I am right about some things or not, You have given me the gift of faith as You have to many others.  Help me to see through the deceits of the devil lest I fall prey to hating instead of loving.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that all whom You have saved by grace are my brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter the path You have chosen for them.  Guide me Lord in the path You have made.

Lord Jesus, You prayed that we would be one even as You and the Father are One.  Lead me, Lord, in the oneness You intend not with compromise, but with integrity.  Help me to know the lines You have created and to stay within those lines.  Teach me the boundaries of Your love and lead me to the outermost places of love that I would not stay in the place of division and hatred.  Amen.

“But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.  But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) – well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me” (Galatians 2:5-6).

Do not be influenced by those who have position in this world.  Yes, we are to be subject to those whom God appoints to leadership, but that does not mean we need follow false doctrine no matter who speaks it.  The Word has been given and the Lord uses whom He will to accomplish what He will.  Do not yield to anyone but the Lord and follow Him all the days of your life.

Lord, I am very much influenced by those around me in this world.  Not all have You in their heart and I am tugged by all kinds of things.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may not yield to what is false but hold fast to You in whom is all truth.  Guide me, O Lord, now and always in the way You have established that I may not wander nor be led astray.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming and setting us free from the recompense of sin.  Lead me now this day in the way of truth that I may walk humbly with You and be guided by all that You have taught.  Let me not be led astray by those with smooth words, but open my ears to hear Your voice above the noise of this world.  Let me not be concerned with what others think, but instead only with the desire to be Yours.  Amen.

“But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.  But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage” (Galatians 2:3-4).

Legalism sneaks in time and time again.  Yes, God’s law is good, but we are not expected to live out all the law.  We cannot.  If we could, we would have no need for a savior.  Besides, circumcision was a sign and not the promise.  Christ has fulfilled for us all that need be done, so why the sign? Yet, there are those who will insist that we must do this or that when what we need is Christ’s salvation.

Lord, I know that I am unable to fulfil the law.  I also know the law is good and as far as I am able, I am to uphold what You have commanded.  Lord, keep me from those who make life difficult and want other things added to the faith.  Help me to live in the liberty You give by grace that I may walk the narrow path and go where You lead me.  Guide me through those who would hinder me.

Lord Jesus, In You alone is all hope.  You have come that we might have life and have it abundantly.  You have freed us from the trap of trying to appease or please in order to live seeking to be conformed to Your image.  Lead me this day, O Lord, and keep me from those who would wrap me up in the nonsense of legalism or the false freedom of doing what pleases me.  Amen.

“Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain” (Galatians 2:1-2).

Accountability is a significant part of walking in the one true faith.  There is only one Gospel and we should be diligent to get it right.  Yet, there are also many tugs and battles that have gone on over the years.  Take care in what You say in defense of the Gospel, yet be firm in conviction and do not take lightly the call the Lord has given you concerning these things.  We each have our part.

Lord, lead me in the way You know will take me to that place where I faithfully live out Your Gospel of truth.  Let me not be led astray by those who are clever or think of something new, but by the good and true Gospel which is Your message of hope.  Lead me, O Lord, and I will be led.  Teach me, O Lord, and I will know.  Guide me, O Lord, and I will follow.  In all things, surround me with those who will hold me accountable.

Lord Jesus, You have come to show the way and those who have followed either show the way You have carved, or else have led astray those who follow along different paths.  Help me see clearly the one true path You have carved through Your death and resurrection that I may walk faithfully with You my Lord and God.  Keep me close to You now and always that I may learn to be whom You are making me to be.  Amen.

“I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.”  And they were glorifying God because of me” (Galatians 1:22-24).

In those days there was no way of knowing what someone looked like.  Photography had not yet been invented.  It may seem obvious, but technology does change how we understand things.  People were amazed at his story.  Share your story, for we each have a story of faith to share and we do not know how the Lord will use that story to impact other’s lives.  Seek the Lord and share what you have found.

Lord, I too often focus upon myself.  Take me away from thinking in terms of self and help me look outward that I may see things as they are and not as I want to see them.  You have given me a testimony based upon the faith I have.  Lead me in that faith that I would live into the life for which You have created me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go and help me go that way.

Lord Jesus, You said the sheep would know Your voice.  I might not recognize You if You stood beside me, but I would know Your voice.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You have established and guide me according to the goodness of the Father’s mercy to come to the place where my actions bring Him glory and are in accord with His will.  Through all things, may I be eternally grateful for the grace and mercy You have lavished upon me.  Amen.

“(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.)  Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia” (Galatians 1:20-21).

How cynical we are in the face of truth and how accepting we are of the lies of this age.  If nothing else, this should speak to you of the truth that we are fighting against principalities and powers and not flesh and blood.  But then, you will find this hard to swallow while accepting something else that is really quite preposterous.  So it is in this age of shadows and clouds that hide the Truth.

Lord, open my eyes to see truth.  Open my ears to hear truth.  Open my eyes and ears to know when lies are being spoken.  Help me to be a person of truth who see through the lies of this age and lives into the promise You have given through faith.  Shape my faith, O Lord, and build me into the character You have intended me to be.  Through all things, keep my eyes upon You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way.  There are those who think that You are lying.  Let me not listen to them, but listen to You who alone knows the way of everlasting life.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way You know I need to go that I may be built up according to Your will and way.  Lead me by whatever route You know I need to go and help me to be willing to travel the roads You set before me.  Amen.

“Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.  But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:18-19).

The modern world looks at things and thinks all of this is made up.  Paul was out preaching the same message as Peter whom he never met.  Look at the simple statement and see that the same Lord is guiding all who are walking in the truth of the Gospel.  Be led not by what you hear in this world, but by the truth which has been spoken once for all through the Gospel of our Lord.

Lord, You have come to lead the way for all who hear Your voice and follow You.  Come, Lord Jesus, and lead me in the way of truth that I may now and always be guided by what You have revealed.  Let me not be carried away by the insanity of this world, but be guided, as You guided those of old, by the one truth You have revealed by grace that I may live through faith unto life eternal.

Lord Jesus, You reveal to those who listen the truth that was spoken first through the prophets and then through You.  Lead me in the truth of this and every age that I may walk in the newness of life that You alone give.  Help me filter out the voices that are contrary and open my ears to Your Word of truth.  Through all things may I be guided by You into life eternal.  Amen.

“But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus” (Galatians 1:15-17).

What a sentence!  You have the heart of the truth and the Gospel wrapped up in one thought.  You were called before you were born.  God knows you.  This does not mean that God directs every moment, for how then would Saul have been one to persecute the church?  But he goes in prayer and meditation and the Lord who matures him quickly teaches him what he must do for the sake of the Gospel.

Lord, the mysteries are great and sometimes we want to invent an answer for what is a mystery.  Guide me, O Lord, in the truth You have revealed that I would live in truth and not in my invented idea that I call truth.  You have always known me and in You is all hope and a future.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You have given that I may walk in Your wisdom and learn to listen as You speak,

Lord Jesus, for all the things that get in the way, You died.  You went to the cross that all who believe would be reconciled to the Father through You.  Guide me, Lord, for I will stray and wander without You.  Teach me, Lord, by whatever means You choose.  In all things, conform me to Your image that I would be led by You and live into the life for which You have called me by grace through faith.  Amen.

“For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions” (Galatians 1:13-14).

You have had the experience you have had and it may have taught you what it taught you, but that does not mean that it was right.  What is truth?  It begins there.  When you have found the pearl of great price, go and sell all that you have that you may have what is offered through this great pearl, which is the truth of the Gospel.  And what you sell is yourself being the center of things.

In one sense, regardless the time or place, there is great similarity in how we sinful humans live.  We want to be the center and we want things to go our way.  But the Lord created everything and He is the center and it will be the way He has determined.  Be zealous for the Lord and leave behind the human traditions that get in the way (keeping those which help but do not hinder the faith).

Lord Jesus, You have told us in many ways how to live into the life of faith You offer us.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would not be hindered by either traditions that contradict the faith, nor my own will which sinfully wants to be in the center.  You died for these sins that I would be set free to live into the life You have called us to by Your grace and through faith.  Help me to live the new life of faith You give.  Amen.

For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.  For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12).

What we share is not from someone who made it up.  The world has always had believers of something man made up.  Some think that none of the worlds religions have been made up by man.  But there is truth, and we are called into the truth.  Come then and live into and by the truth that has been revealed once for all through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Lord, You have given each of us a mind and You rightly expect us to use it.  Let me see through the fog of confusion spread by non-believers that I may live out the truth You have revealed once for all.  Guide me into the truth that I may stand firm and not be led astray.  In and through all things, may I be found resting in You and the guidance You give through grace.  Teach me to live by grace alone through faith alone.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we may have the assurance that only faith can give in the truth that we all have fallen short of God’s glory and that through Your crucifixion and death our sins are atoned for.  Not only that, but because You were raised from death by the Lord and Giver of Life, we too might have new life.  Lead me ever deeper into this new life that You give.  Amen.