Daily Devotionals

“Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas,
and also took Titus with me”
– Galatians 2:1 –

In chapter 2 of the book of Galatians, Paul makes reference to a journey to Jerusalem. The apostle tells us that Titus was not circumcised (vv. 6-10). Finally, he states that those who are justified do not live in sin.

Paul explains that there are not two different gospels, one for the circumcised and one for the uncircumcised. As Paul said in chapters 3 and 4, both Jews and Gentiles are saved by faith, not by the works of the Law. The message for both groups was the same; only the previous condition differed in those who were given the message.

We meet a Paul who resists Peter, because he had become reprehensible (vv. 11-16). What had happened? A decision had already been made about the ceremonies. As an apostle, Paul justified his argument of not requiring Gentiles to be the subject to Jewish ritual practices. Paul, Barnabas, and two other brethren were chosen to take the council’s decision to Antioch. Because Peter had been in favor of the decision and no doubt agreed with it, it would be difficult to say that there had been a controversy between him and Paul. They were in agreement, at least regarding general principles. This clear and unequivocal decision was the basis of Paul’s rebuke to Peter.

The way Peter, Barnabas, and other Jews acted caused confusion and division in the church. The rebuke was public because the offense had been public. Everyone, or almost everyone, was involved. Paul later wrote to Timothy, stating that a public rebuke for sin that is exhibited publicly is effective in deterring others from following the same path (1 Tim. 5:20). However, we must take something very important into accout: the one who is giving the rebuke is not just anyone; it is the apostle Paul, who is not a customary critic, but a missionary commited to the cause of the gospel.

And what was Peter’s attitude? He acknowledged his mistake and made no attempt to justify or excuse himself. This reaction is consistent with what would be expected of Peter after his great confession. It distinguishes him as a man of great spiritual stature.

The true gospel impacts both listeners and speakers,
sheep and shepherds. Paul’s preaching was also
the great theme of the Reformation.

“What is justification by faith? It is the work of God
in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man
that which it is not in his power to do for himself”
(Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 456).

Allow the Lord to do amazing things in your life…

 

“But I make known to you, bretheren, that the gospel which was preached
by me is not according to man. For I neighter received it from man,
nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ”
– Galatians 1: 11-12 –

Paul is going to defend the gospel, the only true gospel, comparing it to what the Galatians were trying to incorporate as another gospel. Let us look at the characteristics of the one and the other.

1. Characteristics of the false gospel:

• • It considers the death of Christ as being worthless (Gal. 2:21).
  • People must obey the law to be saved (Gal. 3:12).
  • God’s grace is earned by practicing certain rituals (Gal. 4:10).
  • It relies on obedience to laws to maintain a good relationship with God (Gal. 5:4).

     2. Characteristics of the true gospel:

• • It teaches that God is the source of the gospel (Gal. 1:10-11).
  • We attain life through Christ’s death so that we may die to sin and live for the Lord (Gal. 2:20).
  • Believers receive the Holy Spirit through faith (Gal. 3:14).
  • The only way to salvation is by grace of Christ received by faith. We cannot be saved by obedience to laws (Gal. 3:21-22).
  • Believers are one in Christ, without discrimination (Gal. 3:26-28).
  • We are freed from sin through the work of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:24- 25).

The Protestant Reformation elevated the true gospel. Swiss historian Dr. J. H. Merle d’Aubigné, often quoted in The Great Controversy, wrote: “Early Christianity and the Reformation constitude one and the same revolution, produced at different times and under different circumstances.”

The five great pillars of the Reformation gave prominence to the one and only true gospel:

1. Sola Scriptura: The Holy Scriptures, inspired by God, are the one, unique, and sufficient authority in all matters of faith and practice.
2. Sola Gratia: Salvation is entirely by grace.
3. Sola Chritus: A single Mediator between God and men.
4. Sola Fide: Justification by faith alone is the central truth of Christianity and the true test of the gospel.
5. Soli Deo Gloria: To God be the glory in the chuch by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever (Eph. 1:6; 3:21).

The  road to heaven passes not over a toll bridge, but over a free bridge,
namely the undeserved grace of God in Christ Jesus.

“Grace finds us as beggars,
but it leaves us as debtors” – August Toplady –

Jesus, the only truth, way, and life… Seek Him today…

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one
who called you to live in tha grace of Christ and are turning
to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all.
Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion
and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ”
– Galatians 1:6-7 –

Paul always expressed himself with joy and gratitude. However, this time, he was surprised that in a short time, some Galatians had abandoned grace and given up the gospel in order to accept false teachers. This was not a variation of the gospel; it was something entirely different. Fake dollars are not dollars even if they are called dollars.

The gospel had freed them from the bondage of sin, leading them to peace, and they gave up such a blessing in order to follow whom? To accept what? To follow Judaizers ad incorporate legalism? The Judaizers tried to discredit the message and the messenger in order to achieve their purpose. They accepted the grace of Christ, but they wanted to “improve it” so that it might be more spiritual and superior.

In the beginning, it was just an addition of rules, rites, and ceremonies, but in time, the addition became the only thing, minimizing the gospel to a series of legalistic rules that reduced the Christian faith to purely formal aspects of religious observances, practices, and obligations.

Nothing needs to be – nor can be – added to the gospel; it is already perfect and does not need to be improved. Either Christ and His grace are sufficient, or they are not. There is no middle road. They claimed to improve grace by elevating the law, and what they managed to do was invalidate the grace of the Lord.

In January 2020, the world was surprised that Megan and Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, decided to leave the British royal family. They have their reasons, but it never ceases to be intriguing that people find reasons to give up their royalty and lose a plethora of benefits, honors, recognitions, properties, resources, and so many other privileges.

However, sometimes we try to step aside as members of the Heavenly Royal Family so we can be independent and live by and for ourselves. It is not necessary to go to England or Galatia to find many who inexplicably give up the royalty of the gospel and set aside their royal membership, with all its honors and blessings.

What is even more puzzling is that they leave royalty to follow the baseness of claiming to be saved by the sum of their merits and woks.

“The greatest enemy of souls is self-worship,
which makes mans seek salvation in himself” – Spurgeon. –

We are members of the Heavenly Royal Family.
Let us not give up our membership, because
“how shall we escape if we ignore
so great a salvation?” (Heb. 2:3)

Our Father is the King, that means we are Royalty. May our Heavenly Father bless you… 

“Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man,
but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him
from the dead), and all the bretheren who are with me,
to the churches of Galatia”
– Galatians 1:1-2 –

Paul’s letter to the Galatians is truly extraordinary. Its six chapters present a synthesis of salvation in Christ and Christian freedom.

In chapter 1, Paul presented himself as an apostle called directly by Christ and as a bearer of the grace and peace of the Almighty God. He was surprised by hoe quickly the Galatians turned away from the gospel of Christ, embracing a false gospel. He condemned those who were corrupting the gospel (vv. 6-9).

Paul was the bearer of the divine message he had received from Christ. It was extraordinary to know that a violent persecutor of Christians joined the ranks of Christ to be a preacher to the Gentiles. He, a zealous and learned Jew, did not resist the divine call, gave his heart to Christ, devoted himself to deepening the kknowledge of the Scriptures, and learned to get along with the other leaders. He definitely changed his life; before, he pursued and destroyed Christian churches; now, he was the one being persecuted and building up churches (vv. 13-24).

Those who meet Christ become a new person; they change their values, their behavior, their priorities, and their lifestyle, and their lives find meaning as they become committed to the mission. Paul’s life, like a doxology, was a songthat glorified divine greatness and majesty.

Fabricio and Gabriela have been young missionaries in the “Caleb Project” since the time they were single. Today they are married and have a little daugther. They walk between two and three kilometers a day to give Bible studies under the blazing sun in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

“I take my daugther because I want her to grow up knowing she’s a Caleb,” says Fabricio, who earns a living for himself and his family, but always combines his work as a builder with that of Bible instructor and preacher. The couple dedicate their vacations as Calebs for the fulfillment of the mission.

They begin every day every day at 4 a.m. with a meditation at church for the young people involved in mission. Then he does his work as a builder between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. In the evening, he gives Bible studies, and after he finishes preaching, he returns home at night. What is his motivation? “There is nothing I can do that exceeds what God did for me; so I do everything for Him.”

Thank God for these young people and so many others
who inspire us and lead us to make commitments.

Like Paul, they and all of us can be revived by a passion;
we can dedicate our talents and resources for the return of Jesus.
“The Christian should be a living doxology” (Luther).

Be blessed, my beloved readers….

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion
of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen”
– 2 Corinthians 13:14 –

Paul concluded his Letter with the symmetrical blessing that encompasses the grace of Jesus, the love of God, and the communion of the Spirit. It is more than a farewell greeting: it is the blessing of the fullness of the Diety.

As we close our reflections about the two Letters to the Corinthians, let us remember Paul’s struggles in defending the message, the mission, and the church. Some of the brethren questioned the apostle, as they considered him to be no more than a rabble-rouster pastor. That is why Paul presented his credentials:

• He was commissioned by God: 2 Cor. 1:1, 21; 4:1.
• He spoke sincerely about the power of Christ: 2 Cor. 1:18; 4:2; 2:17.
• He acted with holiness, sincerity, and dependence on God: 2 Cor. 1:12.
• He was objective and candid in his letters: 2 Cor. 1:13, 14.
• He had the Holy Spirit; he was filled with the power of God: 2 Cor. 1:22; 13:4.
• He loved the believers: 2 Cor. 2:4, 6, 11; 11:11.
• He worked among them and transformed their lives: 2 Cor. 3:2, 3.
• He lived as an example for the believers: 2 Cor. 3:4; 6:3, 4; 12:6.
• He never gave up; he endured pain and dangers in the mission: 2 Cor. 4:1, 16; 11:23-33.
• He taught the Bible with integrity and authority: 2 Cor. 4:2; 10:14, 15.
• Christ was always the center of the message: 2 Cor. 4:5.
• He suffered persecution in proclaiming the gospel: 2 Cor. 4:8-12; 6:4-10.
• He was Christ’s ambassador: 2 Cor. 5:18-20.
• He lived and evangelized with purity and patience: 2 Cor. 6:6.
• He was reliable and filled with the power of God: 2 Cor. 6:7.
• He remained faithful to God under all circumstances: 2 Cor. 6:8.
• He never wronged or corrupted anyone: 2 Cor. 7:2; 11:7-9.
• He promoted offerings responsibly and irreproachably: 2 Cor. 8:20, 21.
• He did God’s work with God’s weapons, not his own: 2 Cor. 10:1-6.
• He was sure he belonged to Christ: 2 Cor. 10:7, 8.
• He always rejoiced in the Lord, not in himself: 2 Cor. 10:12, 13.
• He was blessed with a surprising vision: 2 Cor. 12:2-4.
• He was constantly humbled by a thorn in his flesh: 2 Cor. 12:7-10.
• He performed miracles among them: 2 Cor. 12:12.
• He worked to strengthen the faith and maturity of believers: 2 Cor. 12:19; 13:9.
• He passed the test: 2 Cor. 13:5, 6.

These were the credentials presented by Paul and should be ours as well.
It may not be easy, but is there any other way?

“Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have” (Billy Graham).
Are you ready to pay the price?

God bless you…

“And now, my friends, good-bye! Strive for perfection;
listen to my appeals; agree with one another; live in peace.
And the God of love and peace will be with you”
– 2 Corinthians 13:11 –

The main feature of vehicles known as “4×4” is that they have traction in all four wheels, which means that all of them can provide power to move the vehicle. They also have a special suspension that can withstand the worst irregularities of the road and the most slippery places. Having the 4×4 feature does not increase the force of the engine, but distributes it better, allowing for safer driving on all kinds of terrains and situations.

Before his final greeting, the apostle Paul had a “4×4 admonition” for the church so that the church could ditribute its energy better and face its journey more safely, even in the most difficult situations.

Paul is repetitive about encouraging people to live a joyful life as a distinctive characteristic of believers, independently of the times that are faced or the difficulties of life. He uses a verb in the present to emphasize that joy must continue to be part of the Christian experience on a permanent basis. Below are the key four recommendations the apostle makes:

1. Strive for perfection: The Corinthians are asked to accept the counsel that will lead them to the perfecting of their lives as the body of Christ. The experience of the believer is to involve constant communion, relationship, growth, and mission.
2. Encourage one another: Exhort and restore one another, accompany one another. Pay attention to my exhortations to get together, encourage, pray, and comfort. Strengthen one another and show solidarity. Listen to what I have told you, and be inspired. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and comfort is the result of having God at our side.
3. Be of one mind: Look after the same things, giving yourselves to the love and truth of the gospel and agreeing with each other. The Romans were told to strive for unity (Rom. 12:16; 15:6), while in Philippi, he begged Euodia and Syntyche to live in harmony (Phil. 4:2). Paul wanted there to be a correlation between his teachings and unity, but not uniformity. The bretheren had to have hearts and minds that were united in order to face the enemy.
4. Live in peace: Believers are to live in peace with everyone – at least, they are to do everything within their grasp to achieve that (Rom. 12:18). As with love, peace also comes from God.

Accepting and living out this 4×4 counsel
allows us to journey life more safely,
even as we drive on slippery, steep, or dangerous roads;
and it gives us the certainty of reaching our destination.

“Together we are stronger, we go farther,
and we get there faster” (Pr. Erthon Köhler)

May the peace of the Lord be with you. God bless you…

“This will be the third time I am coming to you.
By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word
shall be established”
– 2 Corinthians 13:1 –

In 2 Corinthians 13, we find the apostle Paul’s final words of advice to the church in Corinth.

1. Paul promised to be tough with everyone (vv. 2, 10).
2. Christ was crucified, but He is risen and lives by the power of God (vv. 3, 4).
3. Our faith requires constant personal evaluation to know whether we, in fact, abide in Christ (v. 5).
4. The truth will remain in spite of its opponents (v. 8).
5. We must pray and work for the spiritual growth of our brethren in the faith (vv. 9, 10).
6. It is the duty of every child of God to love good and seek the good of all people (v. 11).
7. God’s presence with us is the only way to live in peace with each other (v. 11).

As Paul did, we must always work for the growth of the church, constantly seeking to help our neighbors grow, all for the honor and glory of God. To achieve this goal, the apostle had the vision and passion of a prophet, the mind of a scholar, the heart of an evangelist, the discipline of a soldier, the devotion of a friend, and the fervor of a reformer.

Paul, a preacher, apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles, introduced himself with the titles of

• herald, because his obligation was to proclaim the commands of the One he represented; 
• apostle, because he had been called, established, and sent by God; and
• teacher, because he had to teach those for whom he had been appointed.

The apostle understood and lived the commission of making disciples, always seeking to fulfill that divine purpose. Paul was not a solitary evangelist, but the commander of a large and growing circle of missionaries; thus, he worked in the church and for the church.

Paul also understood that not only he as an apostle, but all apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are custodians of the gifts that God gave to the church, sent for the purpose of equipping, training, and disciplining believers for the growth of the church and the fulfillment of the mission.

“Have you so deep an appreciation of the sacrifice made on Calvary
that you are willing to make every other interest
subordinate to the work of saving souls?
The same intensity of desire to save sinners
that marked the life of the Saviour marks the life
of His true follower. The Christian has no desire
to live for self. He delights to consecrate all that he has
and is to the Master’s service. He is moved by an inexpressible desire
to win souls to Christ” (Maranatha,p. 100).

God bless you…

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance
of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me,
a messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure”
– 2 Corithians 12:7 –

Corinth was a commercial city with two ports. It had eight hundred thousand inhabitants and was cosmopolitan and wealthy. It was a stopping point, a place throught which everything and everyone passed. It was the New York of that time. There was religious diversity and syncretism in Corinth. Temples abounded for dozens of gods, including Dionysus, Diana, Jupiter, Zeus, and Aphrodite or Venus, the goddess of love.

God planted a church in this promiscuous and immoral city. It was supposed to go out to the world, but the world was encroaching upon it, and grievous sins were finding their way inside. Paul wanted to bring the church completely to Christ and His Word. 

He told them about an extraordinary experience: he had been carried up to the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2-4). Then he descended back to the earth having no arrogance, only humility.

He still had a thorn in his flesh – a stabbing, piercing spliter that he attributed to a messenger of satan. The enemy’s purpose was to annoy him and hinder his work. Christ’s purpose in allowing the affliction was to protect him from pride (vv. 5-11). The apostle spoke about sublime things and about heaven, but sometimes we want to know what the thorn in his flesh was.

What was the apostle’s thorn? Problems with his eyes? Myopia, astigmatism… perhaps something more serious, like glaucoma? We do not know exactly, but the fact is that he cried out for healing, and the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you” (v. 9).

The painful and bothersome thorn was not going to prevent him from preaching. Paul continued to prepare souls for heaven. Many overlook their own thorns and delight in seeing those of others and exposing them to everyone, including on social media. Instead of evangelizing with heaven, they spread worldliness with the thorns.

Paul cried out for a cure, but God knew that the best remedy was to leave the thorn in him because that would make him stronger and more dependent. There was no place for Paul to criticize; he had to preach. There was no room for murmuring; he had to worship. The Lord did not take out his thorn, but He filled him with His grace. And that was more than enough.

In 1986, a large wave capsized Edward Shiftlett’s vessel in the Gulf of Mexico. In spite of that, he managed to hold onto a floating seat cushion that helped with buoyancy. Two days later he was saved by a man boating with his family. He was calm, with his torso lying on the cushion and one of his legs resting on the other… a wooden orthopedic leg. He had lost his leg in a car accident some years before and always reffered to his artificial leg as “a bad leg,” but now it had become his life raft.

Let the Lord take care of your thorn today;
in the meantime, live by spreading the good news
and preparing yourself for heaven.

God bless you…

“I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing
to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord”
– 2 Corinthians 12:1 –

In 2 Corinthians 12, the apostle talked about his privilege of having been called by Christ Himself. Nevertheless, Paul did not boast about it. In order to avoid pride and self-glorification, God allowed the apostle to have a thorn in the flesh (v. 7). Paul was probably referring to some apparent physiscal illness, something that caused him considerable difficulty, as well as discomfort and inconvenience. However, that difficulty helped the great Paul to be completely dependent on God’s grace.

By depending on the power of God in his frailty,
the apostle considered himself strong precisely because he was weak.

In his ministry, the apostle was able to deal with the weakness of others because he was aware of his own. This helped him to show an interest in people – not in their possessions or in the advantages of being with them, but in their well-being. And in his concern, he tried to help solve or avoid any arguments, schemes, and selfishness that there might have been among his children in the faith.

Paul asked God three times for the solution to his “thorn” (v. 7), but he did not get an answer (vv. 7-9). Paul was not the kind of worshipper who prayed and just did not get answers. He prayed, and the prison of Philippi shook and the jailer was saved. He prayed, and 276 people were saved in an incredible shipwreck. However, he prayed three times about his physical problem, and three times God said “no.”

Have you asked God for something, and it seemed that He was silent? God’s silence hurts like no other, because it seems to be apathy or indifference on His part. Beyond that, there is perhaps something worse: when God answers us and says “no.”

That is when faith comes into play. Paul understood that God’s “no” was a “yes.” Then he strengthened his dependence on the Lord, became strong in his weakness, and began to accept his weakness gladly. This turned into a blessing for him, and he was able to bless many through his own experience.

Some say that “the one who hopes despairs.” It does not have to be like that if we trust in the One who is in control, God Himself. His silences, His “noes,” and His time are always the most opportune and the best.

Let us look at life with other lenses, the same ones
the apostle had to use to understand and strengthen himself
in God’s will, and accept it. “Christ connects fallen man
in his weakness and helplessness with the Source
of infinite power” (Steps to Christ, p. 20).

This is how a “no” from God
can be the greatest “yes” for your life.

Do you beleive? May the Lord bless you…