Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others - ignoring God! - harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. Now, in these last sentences, I want to emphasize in the bold scrawls of my personal handwriting the immense importance of what I have written to you. These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ's suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don't keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible! For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do - submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God - his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them! (Galatians 6:7-16 The Message)
Happy Tuesday dear Friend! My prayers are that this finds you and yours doing well. I pray the heat for those in our area isn't more than you can bear. Please stay safe and cool! I received a very sad prayer request from the conference office which I share with you for your prayers: "Please be in prayer with Rev. James Bryant, pastor of St. Paul UMC in Columbus, upon the death of his son, Falton. Falton's death from cancer follows the death of Rev. Bryant's daughter in April. We pray God's blessing and condolences be with Rev. Bryant and his wife, Vivian." One cannot begin to imagine the pain and sadness in the Bryant family. Only God can bring them comfort and that is our prayer. Please pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.
The passage from today comes in ALL CAPS. I know some of us have our preferences for or against ALL CAPS and mine is I don't like getting a message in all caps unless it is good news. I had a DS years ago who only knew to type in ALL CAPS. It was hard to read his letters and articles in the district newsletter. I prefer getting an email or letter stating, Dear Rev. Valverde, YOU HAVE WON THE PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE SWEEPSTAKES! That is my kind of notice! Okay, Paul wasn't typing, but in this passage he is excited and emphatic as he makes his point and so we read "I want to emphasize in the bold scrawls of my personal handwriting the immense importance of what I have written to you." And this is better than ANY SWEEPSTAKES! Paul understands how we the believers are to live our lives. His basic understanding is that we are NEW CREATIONS because we have given ourselves to the Lord. As believers we are about the work of God and onward and upward we move. He shows his dislike of the traditional part of the Jewish/Christian group that stressed that believers in Christ had to first be Jews then Christians, and as such had to undergo the rite of circumcision which was the sign of the ancient covenant in the flesh. Paul correctly understood that there is nothing written in scripture that says Gentiles who accept Jesus become first Jews, and then Christians.
One who becomes a Christian is a Christian, not a Jew. No need for further compliance with the Jewish law or customs. What Christ has created is what we celebrate and rejoice, that God has created in you and me, a totally new, free life! And we find it fitting here in the USA as we celebrate the holiday coming Thursday, our Independence Day. In Christ we have true freedom from sin, from death, from the past mistakes of yesterday, and the freedom to move forward in faith. And that, dear friends, is an ALL CAPS CELEBRATION!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Your love for us comes in ALL CAPS, let our lives respond in ALL CAPS EXCITEMENT for that love and for You! Guide us and use us! We love You! In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Make it an ALL CAPS DAY of excitement as you share God's Love with others!
Blessings of love,
Eradio Valverde
