The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 6:11-18 (day three)

“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.”

Could it be that Paul’s penmanship results from a visual impairment caused by an ocular malady? Yes. His earlier reference to the tender attention he received from the Galatians as they cared for him when he was ailing mentions their willingness to give him their own eyes to help him, were that possible. This offhand comment here as he closes his correspondence alludes to that shared history. They have a life together, Paul and the Galatians. Laughter, weeping, sickness, worries, hopes — they know each other in all these ways. They have seen each other in vulnerability and in strength. Perhaps the Holy Spirit would move through this dear life they hold in common to bring them close again in the fellowship and peace of the one true gospel.

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 6:11-18 (day two) 

From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. vs. 17

Paul’s body literally told a story. Paul’s last defense of his book-long argument is his own willingness to endure the persecution, suffering, and pain associated with an uncompromising commitment to follow Jesus. Brand-marks is a term that is exactly what you think it is. As we mark livestock, it was common to ‘mark’ those in slavery with an identifiable brand on their flesh. Paul reminds the Galatians, and us there is often a physical cost to obedience.

And yet, he is willing to bear it. That testimony is astounding in itself. If Paul is willing to endure, and point to those lasting scars as a testimony to God’s greater truth, there must be something to it. Think back one chapter and frame it this way. Paul’s spirit also bears the brand-marks of Jesus. He has been set free to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The physical marks cannot, themselves, produce that good. It must be Jesus.

What brand-marks have you endured? What have they produced in your spirit?

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 6:1-10 (day seven)

There is an important sequence in the story line of “The Lord of the Rings.” Samwise Gamgee has been a faithful companion to Frodo Baggins on his journey to Mordor to destroy “The One Ring.” Yet, the ring begins to come between them. It is visibly evident that the weight of the ring is taking a toll on Frodo. Sam, the good friend that he is, offers to share the load and carry the ring for a bit so Frodo can have a break. Frodo, under the the spell of the ring, believes that Sam is selfishly trying to take it for himself, propelling an argument that sends Sam back home. Frodo proceeds on the route by himself and is unable to bear the burden alone leading to his capture.

We know Tolkien was a devout Catholic. I believe he wrote this scene with Galatians 6 in mind. The ring is very clearly a symbol of sin in our own lives. We often believe that our struggles are internal, but what we don’t realize is that as much as we try to keep the pain to ourselves, it will eventually bleed over into other places and impact our relationships. We have been created and designed by God to be dependent on others. Anytime we try to bear our own load, it will almost always lead us to more pain and more problems.

Spoiler Alert: Sam didn’t go home. He followed Frodo at a distance and rescued him. This is the importance of community. Be more like Sam. Be like Christ.

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 6:1-10 (day six)

“…you who are godly…” Galatians 6:1

By “godly,” Paul means walking by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

Beginning in 5:16, Paul provides the Galatians with a field guide on “walking by the Spirit.” He concludes his guide with some very practical advice in Galatians 6:1-10, covering two connected Spirit-led efforts. The first effort is internal (managing our own temptations and reorganizing our life around Jesus), and the second is external (restoring and sharing each other’s burdens); neither is mutually exclusive.

Perhaps these verses have two overarching declarations: You must take responsibility for your own spiritual growth (6:1b, 4), and you can’t fake it (6:7-8).

Paul never does “salvation” light; he expects us to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:12)

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 6:1-10 (day five)  

“For each one will bear his own load.” Paul is eliminating the “comparison game”. The word for load (kind of a backpack) is different than the word for burden (heavy weight). Paul is teaching that each of us is given a load to bear by God- difficulties, opportunities, weaknesses, gifts. If they are given by God, we are accountable to Him for the way in which we bear the load. The expectation, His expectation, is our obedience in bearing our individual loads. Is there community, fellowship, sharing?  Of course, yes. But, with the emphasis on obedience, our focus moves from ourselves (conceit, selfishness) and from others (envy, jealousy) to the Lord. We seek and strive to please Him. Then as we look at our own progress in that light, we can be both humble (not comparing) and generous (knowing others have a load they must bear).

“Our task is to carry our individual load… in a way that pleases God.”- Tim Keller

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 6:1-10 (day four)

After reading about the fruits of the Spirit last week, did one of them stick out to you? The command to be gentle has stuck out to me lately, and it seems that Paul had gentleness on his mind too as he wraps up his letter to the Galatians. The Spirit will produce gentleness in our lives.

More often than not, though, I feel like a bull in a china shop. I put my foot in my mouth and say the wrong thing, I go into a conversation ready to get my way and defend my own ideas, my “correction” or critique of others  comes off harsh and prideful. I have a lot of room in my life for the fruit of gentleness to ripen.

Why is this particular command so difficult? It may be because gentleness doesn’t get us very far in the ways of the world. The world tells us to be pushy and to do whatever it takes to get ahead. When I act in this way and move through life quickly and harshly, I’ve conformed to the ways of the world without even thinking. As Christ continues to renew us, we will begin to see more opportunities to sow gentleness, and in so doing, we will look more like Christ.

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 6:1-10 (day three)

“If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness…”

It’s easier to police behavior than to join the work of restoration. It doesn’t require curiosity, patience, or empathy, just good old-fashioned rule-making and forced conformity. But Paul presents a vision of the church as the one open door on earth inviting people into a vision of what they can be — in fact, what they’ve always wanted to be – but have given up on being because they got lost. When, on mission with Jesus, the church finds a person, that person needs all the Jesus-infused longsuffering the church can muster. It’s hard to be restorative toward someone when all the energy goes into being shocked at behavior. The church never loses sight of how beautiful a person can be.

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 6:1-10 (day two)  

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. vs. 10

Keeping score can get exhausting. Who said what to whom? When was I last wronged or slighted? Was I treated fairly when…? Paul does not discount that fact that misunderstandings happen. He doesn’t deny that life is hard and so often unfair. He is aware, however, of the grace that he was given through Jesus, and that has changed his perspective on how to treat others. Remember when you were forgiven and you didn’t deserve it? There is such a feeling of relief not having to carry around that burden. That burden which impacts how we speak to, relate to, and treat others. Before that grace what was your reaction to misunderstandings? Harsh, bitter, ugly? Perhaps your defenses were so attuned to protecting yourself from further harm, that you became the one hurting others. Paul isn’t saying that doing good is easy, but it does take the pressure off of trying to remember who to be nice to and who not to. Remember when Jesus was kind to you? Pass it on.