Be A - Lert! (Galatians 1: especially vs 23 & 24 ESV)

 May God's peace guard your heart.  May God's truth guide your heart.  May His love cocoon your heart and keep you ever on course towards Him and His people through the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ and the communion of the Holy Spirit (see 2 Corinthians 13:14 KJV).

And as we turn our eyes to the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians may God's grace and peace continue to be with you.  Let's not be diverted from God's truth that will always set us free should we embrace it and guard against false teachings.

Let us not be diverted from the truth we originally were taught, instead, grow in the faith delivered to us to deliver us from this ...

" ... present evil world" (Galatians 1:4 ESV).

When those domineering or even passive agressive people come among a congregation of followers of Jesus Christ, demanding all to follow their way, don't become manpleasers.  This will turn you away from being a servant of Christ.

Your personality will not be so Christlike but become that personlike; that one, or group of false teachers'-like.  You are not free then.

What the Son reveals and sets you free from, don't become entangled in again.  Don't glorify those leaders who will lead you astray.  This is idolatry of another kind.  

Glorify God.

The apostle Paul went through many excruciating experiences as he strove to bring the truth to the Gentiles, the Galatians included.  His beginnings was that of a man who hated the Jesus people and he tried to exterminate them.  But He was arrested by God.  He was directed to Jesus!  He was humbled.  He was given his mission to preach Jesus to the Gentiles!

He received this commission,

"through a revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12).

And this was NOT a "man's gospel"!

His credentials, were pristine.  He'd become an apostle,

"not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father ... (Galatians 1:1 ESV).

What further proof of his authority and right to preach and teach and guide them into God's truth could they want?  After all that, how could they desert Paul and

 "turn to a different gospel" (vs 6) - 

and that, one that chained them up again!?

Furthermore, all the stories other churches of Judea had heard about Paul's former life - the life as a persecutor, but who was now

 "preaching the faith he once destroyed" (vs 23 ESV), 

and they marveled over it.

"And they glorified God because of [Paul]" (vs 24 ESV).

Was this enough evidence, do ya think?  It looks like Paul continued in the vein of establishing his credentials in order to kick some sense, graciously, yet firmly, into the Galatians hearts and minds.  He wanted them to think it through.  Whom had the unadulterated truth?  Was it what Paul brought and taught to them, or was it those trying to chain them up again with rules of which there may well have been many unwritten ones binding the believers in fear to keep them under the thumb of the domineering false teachers.  Like a power play to keep the rest subordinate and subservient.

I really like verse 24,

"and they glorified God because of me."

Paul's change of heart, and shall we loosely say, 'personality' because he'd gone through so much but still had become more and more like Christ, is what caused the churches of Judea to glorify God and how He'd worked it out in and through Paul.

Paul preached the faith he once persecuted.  Only God could have wrought such positive and permanent change in a person.

Do you feel like dancing and praising the Lord too?

After all, we benefit from this change in Paul.  We have the letters he wrote that have taught believers all down through the ages since Paul's time to ours!

God is so amazing to preserve all of this for us now.  We ought not to waste it.  Examine God's Word.  Let it change us from the inside out and then we can preach it.

Let it also alert us to the false teachers that creep into our lives and congregations.  Our churches need 'lerts'.

Be a - lert!

                                             ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Galatians 1 ESV.

Sing, All My Boast Is in Jesus Christ, along with Matt Papa and Keith and Kristyn Getty.

I Would! (Nehemiah 8:10 ESV)

 Would you like to be a joyful person? 

 I would.

Would you like to feel acceptance without having to 'perform' or achieve certain goals before you are accepted for who you are and not for what you can do?

I would.

Would you like to be granted unearned grace?

I would.

We can have this in Jesus.

Would you like to have a more thankful character?

I would but I think I have to intentionally practice gratitude and thankfulness on a regular basis.

We are worthwhile creatures in Christ.  He can change me into His likeness as we build our trust in Him.  

Would you like the joy of the Lord to be your strength to be more like Him and have such a precious relationship with Him?

I would.

In Him we can have it all.  

Praise the Lord.

                                           ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on Nehemiah 8:10 ESV.

Sing, Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee, along with Reawaken Hymns.

Free - Flow (Philippians 4:7 ESV)

 Irritations such as other road users who don't drive as well as we do (ha,ha) or children who can make us frustrated and bring out our impatience and anger, can be hindrances to free-flow fellowship with our Lord and Savior.

I don't know about you but I'd like to have that free-flow of fellowship with my Heavenly Father like Abraham and even Moses once had with Him.  It seems like it was so natural and easy for them.  

So what holds us back from this today?

Actually, we need to grab hold of our faith and believing in God, that He can and will and has already, clothed me with His Holy Spirit.  In Holy Spirit's strength I can overcome the interruptions and irritations of the daily grind.

Do you feel any resistance and/or skepticism to this ideal idea because of those road users, children, annoying colleagues and the like?

There are times we need to give up our rights.  Our rights to uninterrupted time, to not having to slow down when some car driver cuts in, in front of us, or when someone is not punctual to an event, and so on.

Free-flow fellowship with our Abba Father would confess those frustrations and anger and impatience.  It would forgive the 'intruders'.

As difficult as it may be, let's make peace with all that and praise our God from whom all blessings flow.  Let's crawl up into His arms, rest our head on His shoulder and bask in His love, calling Him, "Abba Father."

And say, "OK Lord, what shall I learn from this?  May your peace and joy be a mantle upon me and may I go in peace."

We can choose.  It's our choice.

                                              ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on Philippians 4:7 ESV.

Sing, Your Are My Peace, along with Faithful Sound.

Inside Out Personality Change (Galatians)

 Some people's personalities can change overtime.  They can change from sweet and carefree to troubled and grumpy, and the like.  What happens to make them thus?  Many things!!!

But let's look at some postivie direction in how our own persaonlities can change from the inside out.  But how they can change from not so good, to good, better and then best.

If you do a study of the book of Galatians, you could well have your mind renewed.  Operating less on ones own strength and more through the work of the Holy Spirit indwelling all followers of Jesus Christ.  In this way we can choose to allow the fruit of the Spirit to be released within us to full potential.  Indeed, we could then become ever more Christlike.

We can give our time and attention to working on these as we read through the book of Galatians and let the Lord work in our hearts as we apply its teaching.

Father God, in Your own time and way, bring this Holy Spirit change within me.  Let nothing prevent me from completing this journey from the inside out.  In Your Son Jesus' name, Amen.

                                             ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on the book of Galatians.

Sing, Holy Spirit, along with Jesus Culture 2021.

Prisoner Set Free (John 8:32-36 ESV)

 Do you ever feel like you are in prison; at least, mentally or emotionally?  That you are stuck and it's making you feel depressed?  You can't seem to look above the situation you are in?

And someone hints at, or you hear a sermon or see some reel about forgiveness vs bitterness with which someone tries to catch your attention.  May you be encouraged to see the postitive side by,

"Look[ing] to Jesus Christ".

Oi.  How to do that!  In what way!?

And you feel more resentment, resistance and self-pity turning into guilt and more imprisoning ... But you keep thinking ...

Does forgiveness really bring freedom and joy?  Will it loosen chains that bind my heart and mind and peace?

Don't stay 40 years in the desert.

Jesus came to set captives free (see Luke 4:18).

Look to His light.  Try it.  Look up to that window a way up in your prison cell where some sunlight filters in.

Reach for it.

Slowly.

Painfully, but surely.

Advance over obstacles to get there.

May God's truth set us all free.  Give it all to Jesus and seek His forgiveness.  Then forgive others as He enables you.

Be set free ...

                                                  ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on John 8:32-36 ESV.

Sing, Freedom Hymn, along with Austin French.  This may be a bit of a 'wild' song, albeit a Christian one.  Try to see the lyrics even if the music isn't your style.

Restoration and Perfection (2 Corinthians 13: especially vs 9, 11 and 14 ESV)

 

The Corinthian believers grew up in a very promiscuous society, and may even have engaged in such doings before their salvation.  Many had relinquished those practices but some still clung to them (read both 1 & 2 Corinthians to discover this).

They'd also grown up in an affluent society.  Many were very likely well-to-do.  Clinging to their wealth and hoarding it "just in case" of hard times may have led to their reluctance in giving monetary help when and where needed.  In this case, to the Jerusalem believers who were in dire straits.

Paul had to remind them at least three times to follow through on their initial desire to give such a gift.  He was trying hard to spur them on to love (with God's unconditional love) and good works (see Hebrews 10:24).

There was still work to do in their hearts and minds.  A work of perfection and restoration.  Paul told them to ... 

"Aim for perfection ... (2 Corinthians NIV).

Or as the ESV puts it,

"Aim for restoration."

He said that they prayed for it ...

"Your restoration is what we pray for" (2 Corinthians 13:9 ESV).

He wanted them to

 "Be perfect" (2 Corinthains 13:11 KJV).

When they could be restored in their souls and spirits, they'd be perfect. 

Grace, love and fellowship could be restored to the unity of the Spirit.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,"

Paul wrote and prayed (2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV).

May all of us reading this also have this aim:  restoration and perfection through Christ's grace; God's love and the Holy Spirit's fellowship.  Then may we follow through on our good intentions. In Jesus' name we ask.  Amen.

                                                  ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 13:especially vs 9, 11 and 14 ESV.

Sing, The Love of God, along with Reawaken.

Photo credits:  Jane Koh.

Book Review - My Son's Duty - By Roberta Kagan - Pulication Date: 8 July 2026

 

Roberta Kagan was 'on fire' with this historical work of fiction.  In my opinion, it was a blast from start to finish.  Her time frame for the book is during WWII and the setting is Hitler's Germany.  Besides the plight of the Jews and Gypsies which was horrendous, the ordinary Aryan, German citizen was also in a dilemma.  A case of 'do or die' was basically presented to them and if they did or did not comply to the ever-constrictive rules of Nazi Germany, their fate would be swift and sealed towards destruction right there alongside the Jews and other folks deemed 'undesirable' by the Nazi's.  It was a terrible choice.  What's more, if one happened to be a wife or a son of a diehard SS officer obsessed with promotions in the regime, it was even more dangerous.

This is the take in a nutshell I got and that I felt Kagan was highlighting so aptly.  I found my heart in my throat and tears in my eyes at the heartless, senseless, uncaring behavior.  But when there were those who cared, it was so heartening to see.

I'd say this Book 2 in the Duty and Betrayal series is very well done and more than satisfactory.  I'm holding my breath, waiting for the next in the series, which I hope to be able to read.

                                                    ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.