12 It is those who want to look good outwardly who are trying to get you to be circumcised. The only reason they are doing it is to escape persecution for preaching about the Messiah’s execution-stake. 13 For even those who are getting circumcised don’t observe the Torah. On the contrary, they want you to get circumcised so that they can boast of having gained your adherence. 14 But as for me, Heaven forbid that I should boast about anything except the execution-stake of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah! Through him, as far as I am concerned, the world has been put to death on the stake; and through him, as far as the world is concerned, I have been put to death on the stake.
15 For neither being circumcised nor being uncircumcised matters; what matters is being a new creation. 16 And as many as order their lives by this rule, shalom upon them and mercy, and upon the Isra’el of God!
17 From now on, I don’t want anyone to give me any more tsuris, because I have scars on my body to prove that I belong to Yeshua!
18 The grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
RG AUDIO 040315"Getting the Glory" by Author: Jennifer Woodard
“Make a good impression. Never let yourself be vulnerable, weak, challenged, or unaccepted.” These are the natural thoughts of those who are caught up in showing the world their own “goodness.”
Believers know, of course, that we are only made good through the goodness we borrow from Christ. Galatians 6:11-18 reminds us that what counts are not the rules we try to keep, but “what counts is the new creation.” In Christ, we no longer submit ourselves every day to the constant burden of the Law! Now we submit ourselves to Christ’s love-sacrifice, which daily fulfills God’s command to be holy.
Even if we could be tempted to boast in ourselves, the apostle Paul testifies, “the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). We are no longer connected to the world in a way that looks to others for approval. We have the approval of God in His Son, who died for us. We now make it our ambition to put both the burden and the glory where they belong: squarely on the person of Jesus Christ!
Hymn for Today" "Grace Alone" by Scott Wesley Brown
Every promise we can make
Every prayer and step of faith
Every difference we can make
Is only by His grace.
Every mountain we will climb
Every ray of hope we shine
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace
Grace alone Which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us, our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone.
Every soul we long to reach
Every heart we hope to teach
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace.
Every loving word we say
Every tear we wipe away
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace.
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