Continue to Cleave to the ONE You Believe

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Mark Shields

Reading in Galatians 1:1-10, Paul introduces himself as an apostle who received his authority to preach from Jesus Christ and God the Father. Many had tried to confuse the Gentile Christians in Southern Galatia about the gospel message by imposing the Jewish ritual and moral law on them but Paul reaffirms the solid foundation upon which the gospel message is founded.

Because of God’s grace through Jesus, we can have confidence in our eternal future and this brings peace. With faith, we can be like Paul and continue to cleave to the ONE we believe so we have confidence that every doubt or fear is replaced with a deep abiding trust.

There are times when our computer, iPad, or phone loses its connection with the Wifi. In a similar way, there may be days when we just don’t feel connected to God. It makes a big difference between having a good day and a bad one but a sustaining faith is possible if there is a connection to the Vine. Faith gained today will pull us through tomorrow so we can continue to step ahead day after day.

Image Source

Lord, we call upon your name to make our faith stronger and stronger. We trust in You as we face some difficulty and confusion. We are thankful that the Gospel message can never be taken away or depleted. It has a beautiful and refreshing simplicity about it that sets us free and never let us down. In Jesus, we have liberty through grace. Amen.

 

Posted in Bible Study, Faith | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Questions for Reflection for Study of Galatians 1-3

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Mark Shields

The trek through the book of Joshua came to a conclusion last week. Now the excursion commences in a spirited letter written by Paul called Galatians. The circumstances during the writing involves the Jewish Christians who were trying to impose the Jewish ritual and moral law upon the Gentile Christians who had been converted to Christianity during Paul’s first missionary journey.

Just as the early church faced challenges, we will face challenges ahead but with faith, we can be like Paul and have confidence in what we believe. We can look at each challenge with confidence; looking at each one squarely in the eye and telling them that God is bigger.

Like Paul who was placed in a difficult circumstance, God has placed each of us in our present circumstances for a reason. What we learn during a lifetime gives us each the experiences we need to share with others and glorify God.

Faith in Christ as the Son of God is how we are justified and not by observing the Old Testament law. Errors of a lifetime can be corrected TODAY! Christ in you leads to peace, resolve, confidence, and victory.

You have an unseen power available to you which cannot be measured or weighed but a power that is greater than any other power known so set your sights beyond what you can see. Display oneness with other believers in Christ today by using your individual skills and talents to collectively glorify God.

Success in any undertaking starts by having a plan. The reading plan below will be used as I share over the next few posts. It’s important to have a plan. I’m thankful that Jesus is God’s plan for us and by accepting Him as Savior; we have taken the steps necessary to make this day with Him amazing! At this link: God’s Plan for Us is a post about accepting God’s plan or reaffirming our “YES” for Christ.

Galatians 1:1-10
How does Paul introduce himself? What is the relationship of grace and peace to the things Christ has done for them and you? To what extent does Paul have confidence in the gospel he preaches? How can you have a similar certainty in what you believe?

Galatians 1:11-24
How has Paul received the gospel (See Acts 9:1-9)? For what purpose has God saved Paul? What is God’s purpose in saving you and placing you in your present circumstances? How can other people glorify God because of you?

Galatians 2:1-10
Why was Paul’s authority challenged by church leaders? Does the gospel you give to others lead them into freedom or bondage? How can you be concerned with the poor around you?

Galatians 2:11-21
What different ways of thinking about salvation do Cephas (Better known as Peter) and Paul represent? In each way, on whose action does justification depend? Why can’t Peter’s way ever again be possible as explained by Paul in view of verse 20?

Galatians 3:1-9
On what basis does a person receive the Spirit? What specific promise or commandment is God asking you to believe (act on) today?

Galatians 3:10-14
Can you erase past guilt by trying harder to obey the law in the present? Who has brought you out of the curse (punishment) of the law? How? Why?

Galatians 3:15-18
Is any condition laid on Abraham to receive the promise (See Gen. 15:1-21)? How does Paul refute the objection that the Law of Moses annuls the promise to Abraham and show the priority of faith? How do you receive the inheritance of salvation?

Galatians 3:19-29
What does faith do that that the law cannot do? How can you display oneness with other believers in Christ today?

Image Source

Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment about any of the questions above. Also, I welcome any other thoughts or ideas, favorite inspirational videos, photos, or favorite Bible verses. Just add them to the comments or to a Facebook page I’ve set up at this link: This Day With God.

——————————————————————————————————-

Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts

Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God: A Daily Study Guide to the Entire Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1978. Print.
“Sermons.” Sermons | FUMC Waco. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.  <http://fumcwaco.org/resources/sermons/>.
“Bible.” The Bible – The Word of God – ChristNotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2017. <http://www.christianity.com/bible/>.
Nicholes, Lou. “Recent Commentaries.” Family-Times.net – Devotional Commentary Index. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.family-times.net/commentary/>.
“Google Images.” Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&authuser=0&ei=8IipWNPmOoPBmwHIpZ2ACQ&ved=0EKouCBcoAQ>.
“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.biblegateway.com/>.
Posted in Bible Study, Questions for Reflection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Living with Purpose

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Mark Shields

This poem was inspired after reading Joshua 13. Joshua had done the will of God. He was up in age, yet God’s purpose for him was not finished. Like Joshua, let God be a part of evaluating your activities and discover that He is at work fulfilling your purpose in life.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Purpose in your life
is a major key
in fulfilling dreams
and being all you can be.

So know your skills
and go after first
the task in which
you are well versed.

An amazing future
will be available
because of who you are;
a person very valuable.

A child of God
called concurring
to His purpose
and His spurring.

The target is His will
so evaluate
and stay on the path
as you navigate.

By Mark Shields – © 04-20-2017
Image Source

View original post

Posted in Devotionals, Poems | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Always Hope

Posted on April 20, 2017 by Mark Shields

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. – Romans 8:25 

In the post “On this Journey to a Brighter Day”, written about was how Joshua reviews Israel’s history, he emphasizes how God was involved in bringing them from the land of oppression to the Promised Land.

There is always hope for a brighter day when we are with God and He is with us. That is why we should always examine our hopes and dreams and let God take them to a level that we never dreamed. Even if faced with dark times, His light will illuminate the path to a brighter future.

Like Joshua, let us determine the purpose God has for us, let us carry out this purpose, and finish well. When we serve the Lord, there is always hope for a brighter future just like in this song: Chain Breaker by Zach Williams.


Index of devotionals

 

Posted in Devotionals, Hope | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On this Journey to a Brighter Day

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Mark Shields

As Israel’s history is reviewed in Joshua 24, emphasized is how God was involved in bringing the Israelites from the land of oppression in Egypt to the Promised Land. During each step on this journey to a brighter day, there was a choice to be made and a response. The choice is always to be devoted to the Lord and the acceptable response is always to serve Him with faithfulness. The verb “serve” is used sixteen times in this passage.

Sometimes our dreams may seem to not have a chance but then God opens a door. There is always hope for a brighter tomorrow when we are with God and He is with us. We have never been promised that life will be easy but even in hard times, we can have a joy that keeps us going even when down. Let us be inspired by what Jesus went through on the Cross. Let us remember those who have gone through tough times only to come out stronger on the other side.

Image Source

This day with You Lord, we have completed our study of the book of Joshua. Thank you for the example You have given us in the life of Joshua. His leadership and servant attitude had a lasting impact during his time and continues to impact us today. There is always hope when we are on this journey to a brighter day together. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Hope | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment