"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28

In his book “Shake Free”, Pastor Samuel Rodriguez writes: “I’ll never forget sitting in the guidance counselor’s office my freshman year in high school in the Lehigh Valley area between Philadelphia and Allentown, where I grew up. The purpose of our meeting was to discuss my vocational direction and the courses I should and hoped to take the following semester. Since our school was located in a mostly working-class area, students were placed into one of two groups pretty quickly: either you were smart enough and your parents wealthy enough that you were headed to college and a professional career, or you were not smart enough or your family wealthy enough for college, so you got a basic education and learned a trade.

“So what do you want to do when you get out of school, Sam?” the guidance counselor asked. “What kind of job are you thinking about?” “Well,” I said nervously, “I’m really into computers and hoping to study computer engineering at one of the state universities.” “No, Sam, I’m not kidding,” she said, genuinely agitated. “Your kind doesn’t go to college. You can work either construction or landscaping or get some other kind of service job.” That hurt.

Even though I had good grades that put me at the top of my class and I tested high on all aptitude and intelligence tests, this woman’s prejudice sent gale-force winds over the dream of a shy fifteen-year-old. And the worst part about it was that she seemed totally oblivious to the devastating power of her words. I knew two things when I left her office that day.

First, whatever I did later in life, I was going to make sure it wasn’t one of the three options she’d mentioned. While there’s nothing wrong with any of these jobs and the hardworking people who do them, I desired a different path. Second, I decided to work harder than ever to graduate at the top of my class. So being salutatorian when graduation day came gave me deep satisfaction!”

We are all equal before Christ’s throne and are precious in His sight. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to expose any prejudice in your life, confess it as sin, and be as impartial as Jesus is in all of your relations.

“Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, All are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.” - C. Herbert Woolston

God's Word: "Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." - Colossians 3:11

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2024, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS  †

"For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise." - Galatians 3:18

In her book “Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life”, Tish Harrison writes: “It’s remarkable that when the Father declares at Jesus’ baptism, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” Jesus hasn’t yet done much of anything that many would find impressive. He hasn’t yet healed anyone or resisted Satan in the wilderness. He hasn’t yet been crucified or resurrected. It would make more sense if the Father’s proud announcement came after something grand and glorious—the triumphant moment after feeding a multitude or the big reveal after Lazarus is raised… Baptism is the first word of grace spoken over us by the church. In my tradition, Anglicanism, we baptize infants. Before they cognitively understand the story of Christ, before they can affirm a creed, before they can sit up, use the bathroom, or contribute significantly to the work of the church, grace is spoken over them and they are accepted as part of us. They are counted as God’s people before they have anything to show for themselves. When my daughters were baptized, we had a big celebration with cupcakes and champagne. Together with our community we sang “Jesus Loves Me” over the newly baptized. It was a proclamation: before you know it, before you doubt it, before you confess it, before you can sing it yourself, you are beloved by God, not by your effort but because of what Christ has done on your behalf. We are weak, but he is strong.”

God’s grace is His gift to us. Today in prayer, thank Jesus for His death on the Cross. Thank Him that He is with you and continually gives grace to you.

"No one is safe by his own strength, but he is safe by the grace and mercy of God." - Cyprian

God's Word: "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." - John 1:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2024, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS        †

“He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” – Galatians 3:14

Author Dustin Shramek, in his book “Taken from Suffering & The Sovereignty of God”, writes: “During the 1960s the Lord raised up an indigenous leader in the church in Mozambique named Martinho Campos. The story of his ministry, Life Out of Death in Mozambique, is a remarkable testimony to God’s strange ways of missionary blessing. Martinho was leading a series of meetings in the administrative area of Gurue sixty miles from his own area of Nauela.

The police arrested him and put him in jail without a trial. The police chief, a European, assumed that the gatherings were related to the emerging guerrilla group Frelimo. But even when the Catholic priest told him that these men were just “a gathering of heretics,” he took no concern for justice, though he wondered why the common people brought so much food to the prisoner, as though he were someone important.

One night he was driving his truck with half a dozen prisoners in it and saw “what appeared to be a man in gleaming white, standing in the road, facing him.” He swerved so sharply that the truck rolled over and he was trapped underneath. The prisoners themselves lifted the truck so that the police chief could get out. After brief treatment in the hospital he returned to talk to Martinho because he knew there was some connection between this vision and the prisoner.

He entered Martinho’s cell and asked for forgiveness. Martinho told him about his need for God’s forgiveness and how to have it. The police chief said humbly, “Please pray for me.” Immediately the chief called for hot water so that the prisoner might wash, took him out of solitary confinement, and saw to it that a fair trial was held.

Martinho was released. But the most remarkable thing was what followed: “Not only did the chief of police make plain his respect for what Martinho stood for, but he also granted him official permission to travel throughout the whole area under his jurisdiction in order to preach and hold evangelical services.” There would have been no way that such a permission would have been given through the ordinary channels. But God had a way through suffering. The imprisonment was for the advancement of the gospel.”

God has saved us for a purpose, to let others know about Jesus’ great love. Today in prayer, give thanks to Jesus that He saved you and seek to do His will.

“Jesus didn’t die on the cross so we could go on living any way we like. He made us for a purpose—and he redeemed us for a purpose, too. He wants us to fulfill that purpose.” – Rick Warren

God’s Word: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” – Ezekiel 36:26-27

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2024, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS  †

"All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."" - Galatians 3:10

In November 2023, a former Los Angeles Police Department officer, who is also a registered sex offender, was arrested for human smuggling while in possession of a firearm. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents pulled over Gariner Beasley, 62, a United States citizen. Beasley presented to police a badge “similar in appearance and style” to that of a Los Angeles Police Department officer when agents approached him.

In the back seat of the SUV were three adult women and one adult male, prompting agents to conduct an immigration inspection, according to the CBP. All four people in the vehicle told agents they had recently crossed the U.S./Mexico border unlawfully.

As they searched the SUV, agents discovered an unserialized 9 mm handgun, or “ghost gun,” as well as two fully loaded 9 mm magazines and a shoulder holster.

Beasley is facing charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, owning/possessing ammunition or a firearm when he is prohibited to and fraudulently impersonating a peace officer.

Beasley could be incarcerated for a maximum of seven years if convicted of these charges.

We all fall short of the letter of the law. Give thanks to Christ, who lived a perfect life, and gives us His grace. Today in prayer, thank God for the law that it points us to His love and grace.

"The utility of the law is, that it convinces man of his weakness, and compels him to apply for the medicine of grace, which is in Christ." - Augustine

God’s Word: “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." - Genesis 15:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2024, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS †

"Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’" - Galatians 3:6

Author Pete Greig writes: “In my book Red Moon Rising, I described a time on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza when an Anglican priest asked a bunch of young missionaries sent out by our organization to pray for rain because the locals were suffering from serious drought. No one could possibly have been more surprised than me when, minutes after we prayed, the heavens opened and unseasonal storms began lashing the island.

When we learned that it hadn’t rained so heavily on Ibiza in July since 1976, the timing of our prayer meeting seemed even more remarkable. Somehow, a British journalist caught wind of the story and phoned for an interview. “So you’re the bloke,” he sneered down the line, “who’s claiming you made it rain in Ibiza?” “No,” I replied cautiously. “It would be ridiculous to think that we could make it rain. Wouldn’t it?” “Well, yeah,” he had to concur. “Look, we’re just saying that we prayed for it to rain, and then it did.

It’s you making a connection.” “I did?” “Yes, and I can tell you’re pretty dubious about the whole idea.” “Erm, well, it’s not exactly normal to—” “Look, maybe you’re right,” I said. “If you want to believe that there’s absolutely no connection between the fact that we prayed and then it rained, well, I can totally understand that. If you reckon there’s no power in prayer and human beings are merely a bunch of highly evolved animals trapped in a meaningless universe without recourse to any higher power, I respect your opinion and—”

“Nah, don’t get me wrong, mate.” The voice on the line sounded flustered. “I mean, there’s gotta be more to life. My mum’s a Catholic.” He paused as if this last statement explained everything, which in a way it did. “Yeah, fair play. You’re probably right. There’s power in prayer so why not? To be absolutely honest with you, I do it myself.” A number of people commented that the subsequent press coverage light-heartedly titled “God Squad Claims First Miracle on Ibiza” was surprisingly uncynical.”

No matter what your circumstance, live by faith in Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, give your concerns to Jesus and trust in Him.

“All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.”– Martin Luther

God’s Word: “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." - Genesis 15:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2024, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS †

"The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray." - Galatians 2:13

Enid Blyton was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 1930s, selling more than 600 million copies. Her books are still enormously popular and have been translated into ninety languages.

Blyton said she had a responsibility to provide her readers with a strong moral framework, so she encouraged them to support worthy causes.

However, she had a series of affairs, including lesbian relationships with one of the children's nannies

Blyton had two daughters, Gillian and Imogen, with her husband, Major Hugh Alexander Pollock. Long after childhood, Imogen wrote an autobiography called A Childhood at Green Hedges, which had a long account of all the abusive and neglectful things their mother did to them. Enid was often too wrapped up in her writing to take care of either of them, leaving them mostly to nannies. Their mother was also frequently cruel and would berate them for seemingly innocuous things.

Hypocrisy is a sin. Today in prayer, confess any sin of hypocrisy in your life and seek to have integrity in all that you do.

"Do not live one way in private, and another in public.” – Quintilian

God's Word: "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind." - 1 Peter 2:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2024, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS †

"All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." - Galatians 2:10

John of Kronstadt was the Nineteenth Century Russian Orthodox priest. From 1855, he served as a priest in St. Andrew's cathedral in Kronstadt. Here, he wholly committed himself to charity, especially for those who were remote from the church. He established a factory to provide employment for the poor, and endlessly gave away his money to the needy.

During this time when alcohol abuse was rampant, none of the priests ventured out of their churches to help the people. They waited for people to come to them. John, compelled by love, went out into the streets. People said he would lift the hungover, foul-smelling people from the gutter, cradle them in his arms and say to them, “this is beneath your dignity. You were meant to house the fullness of God.”

We need to continually remember the poor and help provide for their basic needs. Today in prayer, ask Jesus how you can tangibly serve others this week.

"When we serve the poor and the sick, we serve Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve Jesus." – Isabel Flores de Oliva

God's Word: "After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings." - Acts 24:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2024, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS  †

"But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man" - Galatians 1:15-16

In his book “Just Do Something” author Kevin DeYoung writes: “God calls His people to lots of different things. Sometimes you feel a sense of calling to your job and, you know what, sometimes you don’t. You just work. I’m extremely thankful that I love what I do for a living. I feel badly for people who only tolerate their jobs, or worse. But we must all serve the Lord with heart, soul, strength, and mind wherever He’s placed us. Unfortunately, we’ve turned the idea of calling or vocation on its head. The Reformers emphasized calling in order to break down the sacred-secular divide. They said, if you are working for the glory of God, you are doing the Lord’s work, no matter whether you’re a priest or a monk or a banker. But we’ve taken this notion of calling and turned it upside down, so instead of finding purpose in every kind of work, we are madly looking for the one job that will fulfill our purpose in life.”

The Lord calls each of us to follow Him and to do His will.  Today in prayer, thank Christ for calling you and be faithful in following the Lord’s will.

"The responsible person seeks to make his or her whole life a response to the question and call of God." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God's Word: "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." - Ephesians 4:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2024, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS †

"I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." - Galatians 1:11-12

In 1968, Paul Erdmann, a former television salesman from California, moved to Seattle. The Love Family began in October 1968 as a communal household on Queen Anne Hill, Seattle, with their charter being written in 1971. Shortly after its founding, Erdmann renamed himself Love Israel; many of his followers adopted the "Israel" surname and biblical or virtue first names.

The group practiced meditation with the use of hallucinogenics and believed that life was eternal and all people were one. Because life was 'eternal', the group did not observe birthdays or perform marriages. They placed personal revelation above traditional doctrine. The group was committed to living in the present to the point that they avoided making appointments or incurring debt.

Additional prohibitions including smoking, owning clocks, mirrors, or watches, and reading books or magazines other than the Bible. The group did not use driver's licenses and was predominantly vegetarian.  

"Love Israel" is a play on one of the fundamental affirmations of the group, "Love is real". Equally important to the remaining members are three other commonly used affirmations: "We are one", "Love is the answer", and "Now is the time".

Man continues to make up his own false religions. Today in prayer, thank Jesus for revealing Himself to you through the Gospel.

"The true message of good news, that salvation from sin can be found in the sacrificial death of Christ through faith alone, is not a man made message. It is at once too simple and too magnificent for man's wisdom. It is a transcendent message, a message from beyond our mortal limitations. It is a message from God." - Guy Caley

God's Word: "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." - 2 Peter 2:1-2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2024, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS †

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ." – Galatians 1:6-7

In an article entitled “What Does a Faith Crisis Feel Like?”, author Jon Bloom discusses the steps of a faith crisis and its remedy is to run to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Jon summarizes his article by writing:

“So, as we seek to care for those in a faith crisis, we’re wise to remember that (1) the crisis is often the sudden explosion of doubts that have accumulated over time, (2) the crisis is often ignited by a catalyst event that may itself not be fueling their doubts, and (3) their most pressing initial need may not be our immediately addressing their doubts, but experiencing through us the sheltering mercy of Jesus, who extends this invitation to all strugglers: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).”

The road to loss of faith happens when we take our eyes off of Jesus. Today in prayer, pray for those who began in faith following Christ. Pray they may focus on Jesus and His redeeming work on the Cross.

"This would be the first step in apostasy; men first forget the true, and then adore the false." – Charles H. Spurgeon

God's Word: "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." - 2 Timothy 4:3-4

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2024, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS     †

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" - Galatians 1:3

In his book “The Grace and Truth Paradox: Responding with Christlike Balance”, Christian author Randy Alcorn writes the following:

“Before I spoke at a conference, a soloist sang one of my favorite songs, “Amazing Grace.” It was beautiful. Until she got to the tenth word. “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a soul like me!” My heart sank. The word wretch had been edited out! I thought about John Newton, the songwriter. This former slave trader, guilty of the vilest sins, knew he was a wretch. And that’s what made God’s grace so “amazing.” Mind-boggling. Knockdown awesome. If we’re nothing more than morally neutral “souls,” do you see what that does? It guts grace.”

It is by God’s grace that we are saved. And it is by His grace we face today and tomorrow. Today in prayer, praise Jesus for His grace and love towards you.

"Between here and heaven, every minute that the Christian lives will be a minute of grace." – Charles H. Spurgeon

God's Word: "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 2:6-7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2024, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS  †