DOING GOOD AND PLEASING GOD BY HIS SPIRIT
Galatians 6:1-18 / Keywords 6:8
The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Doing Good to All
6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Not Circumcision but the New Creation
11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to[b] the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
Footnotes
a. Galatians 6:14 Or whom
b. Galatians 6:16 Or rule and to
1. When we see
someone commit a sin, it is easy to judge. But instead, we are to fulfill the
law of Christ by carrying their burdens and restoring them gently, all while
being on guard for ourselves. We must test our own actions to keep us humble,
ensuring that we are not sowing to please our flesh, but to live to please the
Spirit. Because we are weak, it can be very hard to do this, and sometimes we
feel weary. But God has given us His great promise that for those who do not
give up, they will reap a harvest. May we therefore not stop doing good to all,
especially those in the family of God.
2. There were
those circumcised who were looking for a reason to make a good impression.
However, Paul stood firm in the gospel and made his boast in no other source
but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was through the cross, and not his
own will or law-keeping, that he had been crucified to the world and the world
to him. What truly matters, then, is not the outward activity, but becoming a
new creation in Christ.
Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for the cross and making us to be
new creations in You. May I live to do good and to please You all the days of
my life.
No comments:
Post a Comment