Galatians 4-6 & Ephesians 1

Paul continues his ministry to the Gentiles through his letters in Galatians 4-6 and Ephesians 1.  He is desperate to win believers for Christ and keep us on the right path.  As we finish reading Galatians, Paul wants us to remember that we live by the Spirit, not by the law and our own efforts.  And because we live by the Spirit, we are blessed with the spiritual gifts of Christ.  We have an eternal freedom.  It's pretty amazing stuff, and for some reason, it's all too easy for us to forget the power and presence that is within us as we get caught up in the influences of the world.  

No matter what we do, whether wonderful or horrible, we cannot earn our own relationship with Jesus.  If you believe in Him (and it's never too late), then you know God has blessed you with His grace and a life-saving faith.  

When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 1:13

As a believer, you can never fall out of grace.  What a gift to be free in Christ!

Paul tells us, today, exactly what God wants us to do in response to this beautiful, perfect, and undeserved gift.

6 The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:6

I want my faith to count, wherever I find myself in this life.  I want to make it personal.  How about you?

How do we love in faith?

A special prayer today from Paul-  After you pray for your own heart, feel free to pray this prayer for those on your mind today.  It's empowering.

Dear God,

I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which You, Lord, have called me, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in Your holy people, and Your incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength You exerted when You raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come (Ephesians 1:18-21).

In the name of Jesus I pray,

Amen

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit,