“Of The Spirit, Reap Everlasting Life” ( Galatians 6: 8, Wycliffe ) by Carley Evans

“⁷ Do not ye err, God is not scorned; for those things that a man soweth, those things he shall reap [for why what things a man soweth, also these things he shall reap].

⁸ For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh he shall reap corruption; but he that soweth in the Spirit, of the Spirit he shall reap everlasting life.

⁹ And doing good fail we not [Forsooth we doing good, fail not]; for in his time we shall reap, not failing.”

Here Paul strongly reminds his readers in Galatia that circumcision of the flesh is not the proper means to everlasting life. They are sowing “in the flesh” rather than “in the Spirit.” They are seeking to obey the Law of Moses primarily to avoid the cross of Christ, i.e. crucifixion. They have forgotten they can not scorn God; they can not make their own way to heaven. They must take up Christ’s way and so “reap everlasting life” as they “soweth in the Spirit.”

^“12For whoever will please in the flesh, these constrain you to be circumcised, only that they suffer not the persecution of Christ’s cross.

¹³ For neither they that be circumcised keep the law; but they will that ye be circumcised, that they have glory in your flesh [but they will you to be circumcised, that they glory in your flesh].

¹⁴ But far be it from me to have glory [Forsooth be it far to me to glory], but in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.

¹⁵ For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision is any thing worth, nor prepuce, but a new creature.”

Paul says, glory not in your flesh; glory only “in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Remember, what matters — what has worth — is being made “a new creature.” All the rest is corruption.

“Denying Him” ( Titus 1: 16, KJV ) by Carley Evans

Paul warns Titus about “many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers” who “teach things which they ought not.” (Titus 1:10, 11) These persons teach for the sake of money; Titus is to “rebuke them sharply.” (Titus 1:13) Paul is concerned that these ‘teachers’ are leading people backwards into “Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” (Titus 1:14) These ‘teachers’ are calling for Christians to be circumcised and to obey the law of Moses.

Paul writes, “They profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him.” (Titus 1:16)

What is the good work of God?

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.” (Titus 3:1-2)

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” (Titus 2:11)

“No Matter How Dire” ( Deuteronomy 6: 4-6, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. (Deuteronomy 6: 4-6, HCSB)

Notice initially God is the Lord of a people, then He is the Lord of an individual. As individuals, we are part of the body of Christ and as such fit into a larger group of people, known collectively as ‘the people of God’ or as ‘the children of God.’ As individuals, each of us is a child of God. Paul calls us ‘sons’ and if sons, then heirs together with Christ. We are to keep in our hearts the key concepts expressed by Moses: God is One; and we are to love Him with all of our being and with all of our strength.

Moses calls for Israel to write these concepts on their door frames so each day the Word is visible to the eye and to the mind. He commands Israel to speak these truths with their children as they rise and as they go in and out.

At all times, the Word of God is to be within sight. As the Word is within our reach, we are prepared for any of the wiles of our adversary. Though he prowls about like a devouring lion, our armor — if intact — is able to withstand his assault. Keep the Word in your hearts, and so be ready for any situation no matter how dire. Love the Lord with all you are; and God is near.

“Never Enough” ( Deuteronomy 13: 4, ESV ) by Carley Evans

“You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.” (Deuteronomy 13:4 ESV)

Hold fast to God.

Obey His voice.

Walk after Him.

Fear Him.

Keep His commandments.

Serve Him.

I notice there are no negatives in Moses’ exhortation. Each suggestion is a positive statement of action. My favorite is “hold fast to Him.”

God is the anchor in my life. He keeps me in place, so to speak. If I drift in one direction — one which does not please Him, He pulls me back to center. I rely on Him. I trust Him.

I am in awe — in holy fear — of Him, of course. He is all-powerful, all-knowing. Yet my fear is tempered by my knowledge that He is all-loving as well. His justice is true. His wrath is satisfied. I need not fear to the point of dread of Him. For, He is my anchor in all things.

His voice is in His Word. I keep His Word in my mind at all times. I refresh my soul, spirit, heart in His Word every day, several times a day. I walk after Him which implies He is in front of me, leading the way. If I go the wrong direction, again He is my anchor and I hold fast to Him. I trust He pulls me back to center.

Keeping His commandments — what are His commandments? To love Him above all else and to love Him completely, with my entire being. And, to love others as I love myself. Only through Him am I able to obey.

Serving Him — Never enough.

“Remove the Unbearable Yoke” (Acts 15: 9, NIV) by Carley Evans

“[God] purifies their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (Acts 15:9-11, NIV)

So says Peter to “the believers who belong to the party of the Pharisees” who are calling for the Gentiles to “be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” (Acts 15:5)

Peter argues God shows His acceptance of these Gentile believers by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He gives Him to Jewish believers. After all, says Peter, God “knows the heart.” (Acts 15:8) James agrees with Peter, speaking before “the whole assembly” (Acts 15:12) that they “should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” (Acts 15:19) A letter is sent to “the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia” telling them that “it seems good to the Holy Spirit not to burden you with anything beyond” a few things they would “do well to avoid.” (Acts 15:28, 29)

We are able, if willing, to learn a lot from Peter and James. Often we burden babes in Christ and even mature believers with impossible rules, requirements, regulations — you’ve got to do this and not do that or God will not be pleased. We forget God knows the hearts of His people; He knows long before we do who hears and believes the good news. So, let’s not “test God.” (Acts 15:10) Let’s refrain from burdening ourselves and one another with a yoke God has removed.

“Appointed For Eternal Life” ( Acts 13: 39, NIV ) by Carley Evans

Here and there, as I have written before, a single verse in the Word of God presents the good news simply and directly. Paul, while preaching to the men of Israel in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, states:

“Through [Jesus] everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.”

Paul warns the men of Israel not to be scoffers. He tells them the truth — that he had to preach the gospel to the chosen people of God first. But, now that they “reject it and do not consider [themselves] worthy of eternal life” he turns to the Gentiles, functioning as “a light” for them. (Acts 13:46,47)

Paul knows that “all who are appointed for eternal life believe.” (Acts 13:48)

 

“Experts In Law Reject God’s Purpose” ( Luke 7: 30, NIV ) by Carley Evans

Reads like a headline, doesn’t it? “Hear ye, hear ye: Experts in the Law Reject the Purposes of God.” Luke writes this rejection of God’s purpose for these religious experts is due to the fact they are not baptized by John. Rather, “they are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other.” (Luke 7:32) The experts in the law complain that no one responds to their “flute” or to their “dirge” — people neither dance to their joyous tune nor do they cry at their morose funeral march.

The experts in the law complain that John the Baptist “has a demon” even though he “comes neither eating bread nor drinking wine.” (Luke 7:33) They complain even more when Jesus, “the Son of Man comes eating and drinking.” They call Jesus “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” (Luke 7:34) Only the way of the old covenant works for them. They follow only Moses, missing completely that Moses always points to Jesus, the Messiah.

And how Jesus longs to gather these religious leaders to Himself, but they reject His purposes for them because they reject the means to the end they so desire. They refuse baptism by John.

“My Law In Your Heart” ( Hebrews 8: 10, NIV ) by Carley Evans

Now I know it’s difficult to be compared to a dog, but maybe it’s a bit easier to take seriously if I compare us — Christians, that is — to puppies. Puppies, experts say, are desperate to please. They do virtually anything for attention. Over time, their motivation becomes not only a desire for attention and to please, but a deep longing for the love of their owners. With a collar and a leash, some puppies get dragged along behind the master while others pull ahead. Still others — for some reason that is foreign to me — don’t even need a leash. They heel, miraculously. But all puppies need collars. Collars identify the puppy as belonging to a someone.

I’m a pull ahead, drag behind puppy. But, I proudly/humbly wear my collar. God’s Name is written quite clearly along its leather sheath. Nowadays, the leash rarely pulls me up short.

God says to me and to you, “I put My laws in [your] mind and write them on [your] heart. I Am your God, and you are [Mine].”

“Shadows Of What Is In Heaven” ( Hebrews 8: 5, NIV ) by Carley Evans

Everything created for the tabernacle in Moses’ day is created as a perfect pattern of Jesus who is the mediator of the new covenant — a covenant “superior to the old one, and [...] founded on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6) The old covenant between God and the people of Israel has “something wrong” with it, “for if there is nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place is sought for another.” (Hebrews 8:7) A new covenant is needed because “God finds fault with [His] people.” (Hebrews 8:8) Because His people are incapable of obeying the rules and regulations established in that first covenant, God provides a means of “putting [His] laws in their minds and writing them on their hearts.” (Hebrews 8:10) God knows His people can not “remain faithful to [His] covenant” so that He must necessarily “turn away from them.” (Hebrews 8:9) God provides a new covenant — one which is not like the old. “No longer is a man to teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know [God], from the least of them to the greatest.” (Hebrews 8:11)

God says, “For I forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12) This is the answer — not that we love God, but that He loves us.

“What Jesus Does” ( Jude 9, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

Even the archangel Michael when debating with Lucifer about the body of Moses dares not “bring an abusive condemnation against” the devil but rather says, “The Lord rebuke you.” (Jude 9, HCSB) And we are told to leave room for God’s revenge rather than seek it on our own. God declares, “Vengeance belongs to Me; I repay.” (Deuteronomy 32:35) “No one can rescue anyone from My hand.” (Deuteronomy 32:39)

The right-wing extremist in Norway — whether a nominal Christian or not — obviously did not leave room for God, either for God’s love or His wrath. Instead, he murdered innocent young people and attempted to assassinate the prime minister and harm the government of his own country.

Our nature is to judge and criticize one another, but Jesus tells us, “Do not judge, and you are not judged. Do not condemn, and you are not condemned. Forgive, and you are forgiven.” (Luke 6:37) Jesus tells us, “I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)

Then, once you restrain yourself from judging the other, once you forgive, once you love and do what is good, once you bless and pray for those who are evil; then God, who sees, is pleased. For you are doing what Jesus does.