Accountability, Appearance, Arrogance, Bible, Deception, Honesty, Lies, Scripture, Truth

YOU CAN’T MOCK GOD

GALATIANS 6:7

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap.”

To mock someone isn’t very nice. Have you ever been mocked? Do you even know what I mean by that? To mock someone is to turn your nose up or sneer at them. In other words, you show how you feel about them – not very much. It’s meant to try to hurt that person. When you mock someone, you almost always do it so they are aware of it. You want them to see you do this in order to inflict as much pain as possible.

Well, that just won’t work with God, according to Paul in today’s verse. He says, “God is not mocked;…” The Greek word used here is only used right here in the New Testament. The word comes from the Greek word for nostril. So, you can see the symbolism. But look at why Paul says God will not be mocked. A man will reap what he sows. Let’s look at that.

APPLICATION

You may have heard it said that a lot of folks are quick to sow their wild oats and then they pray for a crop failure. Well, you can’t fool God. He knows what you’re up to. You are only deceiving yourself. You can’t pretend to be a Christian and keep one foot in the world. God knows. You can’t say you love your brother and try to take advantage. God knows.

The Greek word for “deceive” means to wander or be misled. It’s in the Present tense which means you are constantly doing it. It’s a command – don’t do this. And it’s in the middle voice which means you are misleading yourself. Did I lose you. Paul is saying to the Galatians, “Don’t let yourself wander from the truth.” This applies to us today just as much. We are prone to wander just as easily.

Do you want to live in truth? Do you want to live with nothing to hide? Then submit to God. Do not attempt to hide stuff from Him. You may turn your nose up for a while, thinking you’ve got this handled. But it will come crashing in sooner or later. Do not be deceived! God will not be mocked!

O Lord, I want to live for You and show the world I am Your child

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Bible, Blessing, Giving, Kindness, Money, Scripture, Teaching

TEACHERS OF THE WORD

GALATIANS 6:6

“The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.” 

I have had some great teachers in my life. Some were in Primary School while others were in High School. Some of my favorites were in College and Seminary. But my favorite teachers are the ones who have taught me the Word. I did not know the gravity of this verse back then. If I had, I would have followed it more precisely. Good teachers are hard to come by.

Paul tells the Galatians in today’s verse that they, as students of the Gospel, need to provide for and help maintain those who have taught them the Word. Now, Paul is not purely advocating for himself. He fully trusted the Lord for his provision. But he also knew that God expected those who had been blessed to be a blessing to others.

APPLICATION

In 1 Corinthians 9:11-14, Paul tells the Corinthian church the same thing. “11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? 14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”

I make my living as a minister of the gospel. To be exact, I am a missionary who relies on others to support me financially. It is a humbling thing to ask people to give to you. But I am commanded by the Lord to do so. Those who are part of our ministry support team tell me how blessed they are by the privilege they have to give. You need to give to those who teach you. Don’t hold back their wages. Bless them and you too will be blessed.

Father, thank You for the opportunity You give us to be a part of someone’s ministry of the Word.

(If you would like to give to our ministry, you can do that at www.twr.org/carl-willis.)

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Accountability, Admonished, Advocate, Bible, Choices, Consequences, Forgiveness, Obedience, Redemption, Scripture

YOU’RE GONNA ANSWER FOR THAT

GALATIANS 6:5

“For each one will bear his own load.”

As a proper sibling, I always blamed my brother and two sisters for stuff. If I messed up something, Cheryl did it. If I broke something, it was Tim’s fault. And if I got into the cookie jar, of course, it was Brenda. I didn’t want to take the blame for anything. My parents weren’t dummies, though. They knew who was behind 90% of those things.

Paul tells the Galatians here that they must take responsibility for their own issues. They couldn’t blame others Elliott says this, “Here he is told that he must ‘bear his own load,’ in the sense that he must answer directly to God for his own actions. His responsibility cannot be shifted on to others.” I do believe this still applies to us today, doesn’t it?

APPLICATION

Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That includes you and me. There is no way around it. I sat next to a one-year-old on a flight recently. Let me tell you – no one had to teach her how to pitch a fit. It just comes naturally.

But there is an escape plan. Remember 1 Corinthians 10:13? It says, “No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

Aren’t you grateful for that? We still have to confess those sins. We still have to make things right. We still have to bear our own burdens. In fact, the Greek word used here for “load” actually means something that an individual has to carry themselves. And then, we take that “load” and lay it at the feet of Jesus. He understands. He can take it up. Take a minute and read Isaiah 53:4-5. You will see what He carried for us.

Lord, I bring my load to You. I know You can carry it much further and better than I.

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Modeling, Bible, Scripture, Holiness, Blessing, Boasting, Attitude, Testing, Influence, Examine, Comparison

EXAMINE YOURSELF

 

GALATIANS 6:4

 

“But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another.”

 

Do you remember those days in school when your teacher would announce a pop test? I hated that. I was a pretty good student, but I didn’t like those surprise tests. But then she would say when everyone was finished, “Okay, I want each of you to grade your own paper as I call out the answers.” Now you would see how you did on that unexpected test. Only you and the teacher would know the result, unless you shared it with someone else.

 

Paul tells the Galatians to take out that clean sheet of paper and prepare to examine themselves. It did not matter what others thought about them. It only mattered what God thought. They were to measure themselves not against someone else but only Jesus and His expectations of them. Then and only then would they have reason for rejoicing, and even then, only in Him.

 

APPLICATION

 

Proverbs 14:14 says, “A good man shall be satisfied from himself.” A good man (or woman) shall examine himself according to God’s law. When he finds himself in agreement with God, he can rejoice. Albert Barnes says this in regard to this verse. “Here is the true secret of happiness. It consists: (1) In not forming an improper estimate of ourselves; in knowing just what we are, (2) in leading such a life that it may be examined to the core, and (3) in not being dependent on the fickle applause of the world for our comfort.”

 

What is your measure of yourself? How do you measure yourself? Each week in a weekly meeting I am in, we have to measure ourselves in about seven or eight areas. One of those is our walk with God. Another is our family life. These categories give us a snapshot of that particular week. My score changes weekly. I am never the same. Things change every week and how I respond to those things change as well.

 

But there is one area in which I shall never change, in which I can measure myself well. That area is in my personal relationship with Christ. I know it is secure. I know I am sealed for all eternity under the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Nothing will ever change that. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

 

Father, examine me and show me my faults so that I can better represent You to others.

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Family, Ministry, Obedience, Comfort, God's Will, Bible, Scripture, Accountability, Battles, Burdens

SO, YOU THINK YOU’RE SOMETHING

GALATIANS 6:3

“For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Ouch! This verse feels like Paul is stepping on my toes. How about you? We have all been there. We think we are better than someone else. We think we would have never fallen like that person did. Some of my hardest falls have been the result of overconfidence. I like what Doddridge says about this verse. “The worst part of the fraud falls on his own head.” Man, that stings.

Don’t forget that this verse immediately follows the verse about bearing each other’s burdens. This is why. Because you may wind up in the same fix and need help yourself. Paul is warning the Galatians against vanity – spiritual vanity. Oh, it was so easy for them to think they were better than others. They had arrived. They were above those who struggle. Paul is saying, “Not so fast! You too may need a hand down the road.”

APPLICATION

I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 10:12 where it says, “Now, when you think you are standing firm, be careful lest you fall.” We can never get overconfident, unless that overconfidence is in Jesus. He will never fail – NEVER! His promises are true. In Joshua 23, Joshua repeats a statement from chapter 21. He says in verse 14, “‘Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; they all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.’”

Those promises still hold true. He is a promise keeper to the end. Even the last words Jesus spoke on earth after His resurrection says this. In Matthew 28:20 we read, “…‘and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” So, when we fail (and we will), He is always there – to the end.

Let’s back up a minute to the previous verse since this is important to the context. We must bear one another’s burdens because we need each other. There will come a day when you fail and that brother or sister to whom you gave a helping hand will run to your aid. That is how the body works.

Thank You, Father, for the body of Christ that looks out for each other.

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Bearing, Bible, Burdens, Caregiver, Compassion, God's Will, Holy Spirit, Love, Modeling, Scripture

BEAR OTHER’S BURDENS

GALATIANS 6:2

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

I don’t know about you, but I have enough burdens of my own without bearing someone else’s burdens. Am I right? Well unfortunately, we don’t get off that easy. The Bible tells us to step up and help others when we see a need. Now, wait a minute, Carl. I don’t have the time or the energy to do that. I understand, but let’s look at what Paul says about this.

“Bear one another’s burdens.” That’s what the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to say to the Galatians (and to us). But what does that mean? The Greek word translated as “bear” is bastazo which means literally to lift up or to carry. This verb is a command in the Present Tense, which means it is not a one time thing. You should do this constantly. Why? Because by doing this, you will be doing exactly what Jesus would have done. That’s what the rest of the verse means, “fulfill the law of Christ.”

APPLICATION

Do you have a particular weakness which you need help with? I remember when I went through my last stem cell transplant how I needed my wife’s help. I was so physically weak at times that I required a walker or cane to walk without falling. She watched me so closely every time I stood to walk. She was right there by my side to lend a hand if needed. I could not have gotten through that time without her.

In the same way, we see our brothers and sisters in Christ who need help. It is our responsibility to come to their aid. Maybe it’s a husband who is struggling in their marriage. Step up! Perhaps it’s the single mom who needs help picking up a child from daycare. Step up! It could be a believer who is fighting the temptation of porn. Step up! We are called to help carry these loads for our fellow believers.

Just as Jesus carried you in His arms when you were weary, we can do the same for others. Obviously, there were those in Galatia who needed help. Paul wanted them to help each other, to lift and carry each other when necessary. The blessing we receive far outweighs any effort we put in. Be there for someone.

O Lord, You have done so much for me. Help me be there for others.

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Bible, God's Will, Love, Mercy, Restoration, Scripture, Sin, Stains

RESTORE

GALATIANS 6:1

“Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.”

My dad taught me how to restore furniture. It wasn’t a quick, easy or clean process. It required elbow grease, hard work and usually lots of sandpaper, cleaners and rags. And after time and energy is spent over days, weeks or even months, you would have a beautifully restored piece, something worthy of displaying.

Let me use that analogy today to describe the word translated as “restore” in today’s verse. Paul is describing how the mature believers should respond to a fellow believer who has been caught in sin. The Greek word used here is katartizo, which means to be “exactly fit to be in good working order.” Paul is saying that the Galatians need to help those individuals become useful servants again. The body needs all its parts to function correctly. The church cannot afford to lose these precious saints because of their slip into temptation.

APPLICATION

Okay, I want you to list all your slipups right now. Just kidding. I would not want to list mine anywhere. I would probably need two legal size notepads to list all mine. But as Albert Barnes says, “Christians do not commit sin deliberately, and as a part of the plan of life; but they may be surprised by sudden temptation, or urged on by impetuous or headstrong passion, as David and Peter were.” Those are the ones Paul is saying we should restore.

Like in my analogy of furniture restoration, restoring a brother or sister from their slipups can be messy. Sin stains. James says in James 1:27, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” We know the effects of the world on us. If we allow it, it will pull us down and leave its mark.

Instead of burying our wounded in the church, let’s bandage them up and help them gain their spiritual strength. Let’s help them wash away the filth that sin has left on them. When we do that, we not only strengthen them, but we strengthen the body of Christ as well. One warning – as you do this, be careful to guard yourself of being stained by their sins. Be guarded against the devil’s schemes to pull you into the cesspool with them.

Father, help me be that person to lift up the fallen among us and restore them to serving You.

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Bible, Boasting, Challenging, Envy, Examples, God's Will, Scripture

BOASTFUL, CHALLENGING AND ENVIOUS

GALATIANS 5:26

“Let’s not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

If you have ever come across someone who can be described by our title, you learn quickly to avoid them. No one likes to hear someone constantly bragging about themselves. No one likes someone who is challenging and difficult to get along with. And an envious person (envy defined as getting joy at someone else’s bad luck or wanting what they have) drives people away like a shark in the water near a beach.

Paul ends chapter five (remember there weren’t any chapter dividers in the original letter) by giving the Galatians a further instruction. He had just told them to follow the example of Jesus. He further defines that by saying three things not to do – be boastful, be challenging or be envious. Let’s break down those three admonitions in our application time below.

APPLICATION

Paul begins today’s verse by saying, “Let’s not become boastful.” What does that mean? It means “self-deluded conceit driven by personal ‘delusions of grandeur.’” (HELPS Word-Studies). It is the Greek word kenodoxos which only appears right here in the New Testament. These people are full of themselves at the expense of others. Not a friendly and loving individual, to say the least.

Then Paul tells them to not be “challenging one another.” The word used here is prokaleo which is also only used right here. It means to provoke. It’s the idea of someone who is constantly trying to start a fight. They look for ways to get under your skin to get you to respond negatively. Again, this is not a very loving person and is definitely not what you want to be described as.

The last thing Paul says in today’s verse is to not envy one another. Once again, we have a Greek word that is only used right here. It is phthoneo. It is defined as “becoming bitter (sour) because of another person’s success.” (HELPS Word-Studies). Their favorite expression is “That’s not fair. I deserve that.” I pray that is not you!

All three of these character traits run totally against the example of Christ. But you must choose how you are going to respond to others. Boast only in Jesus. Challenge only the forces of evil. And desire only the best for others. That’s being Jesus.

O God, give me the power to live just like You. 

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Abiding, Bible, Examples, Following, God's Will, Leading, Scripture

FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT

GALATIANS 5:25

“If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.”

I can’t help but think about the childhood game of “Follow the Leader” when I read this verse. That was such fun as a child, especially when you got to lead. Over and under things, up and down others. The leader would often make it challenging, but if you followed the path of the leader and watched what they did, you could make it.

Paul tells the Galatians here since they are alive in Christ through their acceptance of Him as Savior and Lord, they should also follow Christ’s example. The Greek word translated “follow” is only used five times in the New Testament. It means to “walk in line, in strict accordance to a particular pace (‘stride’); walk in cadence, ‘keep in step.’” (HELPS Word-studies) It can also be defined as “to be in rows, fig. to walk by rule.” (NAS Exhaustive Concordance). So, you see it wasn’t just to follow Christ. It was to follow exactly.

APPLICATION

How in the world does the Lord expect us to do that? I can’t live just like Jesus. He is the Son of God. Sure, He had an earthly body, but He had superpowers. Right? I can’t turn water into wine. I can’t heal leprosy by touching someone. I can’t raise the dead. Or can’t I? Now, hold on. Don’t think I have lost my mind. Hear me out. No, hear the Word out.

In John 14:12-14, Jesus says, “‘12 Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.’” What a promise! I am not going to go build a whole, new denomination of churches on that, but I am told He can do anything through me.

You see, that right there is the key. It is Him working through me to do these things. It is not me. So, when He tells me to follow Him exactly, He empowers me to do so. He will not force me to march like a robot. We have that irritating free will. But if we will allow Him to work in our lives, we can do anything for Him. Isn’t that awesome?

Follow! follow! I will follow Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I will follow on!
Follow! follow! I will follow Jesus!
Everywhere He leads me I will follow on!

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Battles, Bible, Crucified, Death, Flesh, Forgiveness, Redemption, Scripture, Sin

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

GALATIANS 5:24

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

The idea of being crucified does not appeal to me. How about you? You’ve probably read a lot about the agony of that. Christ suffered greatly. The pain must have been unbelievable. Yet He did it all for you and me. Why? Why would any sane person go through that for someone else? Because He was following the Father’s plan of redemption for us. Look at what Paul says about how that affects us.

Paul says a statement here that is repeated throughout the New Testament, in one way or another. He says if we are in Christ, we have “crucified the flesh.” That act of crucifixion means death. Paul is saying our flesh should be dead. Its passions and desires should be irrelevant. Dead men don’t have passions and desires, right? Let’s see some other references to this gift from our Lord.

APPLICATION

Of course, just back a few chapters, we find Galatians 2:20 (my life verse). It says we have “been crucified with Christ.” The verb there is sustauroo from sun and stauroo, which means to impale in company with, to crucify with. When Christ’s physical body died on that cross, our flesh died with it. Sin no longer has a hold on us. Do we really understand that?

Romans 6:6-7 say, “6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for the one who has died is freed from sin.” The same Greek word is used there for “crucified with.” We don’t have an excuse for sin. We can’t blame our sin nature. It has been nailed to the cross.

What is our excuse for sin? Simply, our choice to sin. My former brother-in-law used to say, “Before salvation we chased sin. After salvation sin chases us.” We should be pursuing Jesus every day. We should be chasing righteousness. Paul told Timothy that in 1 Timothy 6:11. “But flee from these things (fleshly things), you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” What are you chasing today?

O Lord, I run to You. I have You in my sights and am pursuing You. 

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