Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:1-2).

To all who are faithful, he says: only the Lord knows who the faithful are.  If you understand that, then treat those you believe to be faithful in this manner: be gracious to all others as the Lord has been gracious to you.  Live in the grace you have been given and, as far as you are concerned, live in peace with others.  We each have been called by the Lord and we have been given tasks by the Holy Spirit so that we may live this life of faith in fellowship.

Lord, these are simple words and I have heard them many times.  I often think of them as just a greeting.  Help me to learn to receive them as a blessing and take them into my heart.  Teach me how to be blessed and to bless others.  Guide me to a fuller understanding of living this life of faith which You have given me.  Teach me how to live all my days faithfully, in peace, and loving my neighbor.

Lord Jesus, You who were always faithful, through whom we have received grace and mercy, and by whom are all things held together, guide me in the way of faith this day so that I may be blessed and be a blessing to others.  Help me rest in Your peace, share Your peace, and be at peace with those around me.  By Your grace, help me today to be Your witness and share the truth of faith in my life with others.  Amen.

“From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen” (Galatians 6:17-18).

Will you believe the faithful report you have received from the saints?  Will you believe in the faith you have been given?  Let no one mess with the truth which has been delivered once and for all.  They will try; but see it for what it is.  Holy Scriptures are not cleverly devised fables that we have been given, but the truth of God.  Rest in the peace He gives and know that in and through the One who created all life comes the blessing of salvation.

Lord, You have revealed all that is needed.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life so that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Lead me to know and trust Your faithful saints who are trustworthy, and to reject the lies of the devil however and through whomever they may come.  Teach me to rest in the peace of salvation given and to live each day following You in all of Your ways.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Lead me today, Lord, so that I would look to You for all things.  Guide me by the Word You have already given and grant me strength to reject all of the lies that surround me.  With Your guidance, I can do all things, for You have given me the words of eternal life and the will to follow You.  Lead me into Your peace always.  Amen.

“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.  And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15-16).

The new creature is the one who walks with the Lord.  The new creation is what replaces the old Adam, who insists on laws and regulations instead of walking humbly with God.  Come then and do not walk in the way of the world; but walk in the way of the Lord who created all worlds.  Yes, there is order, but its purpose belongs to the One who calls you to follow Him always.

Lord, always be the One leading me in this new life You have given me by grace and through faith.  Help me to avoid the traps that are set up in this age of wickedness which would ensnare me in the law’s unyielding demands.  Guide me in the way of life You have established so that I would learn how to live as one freed from sin, always seeking to do what is pleasing to the Father.  Guide me, O Lord, for I know well the way of the old Adam, but I do not yet fully know the way You have established.

Lord Jesus, You gave us a new commandment which sums up all of the old commands and re-establishes what You initially created as the order of things.  Guide me, Lord and  Savior, in the way of everlasting life that lives by humbly abiding in You.  Teach me how to think, act, and have my being so that I may abide in the way of life everlasting.  Lord, help me overcome the ways of this world with Your grace and live always abiding in You and in the way You lead me.  Amen.

“For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.  But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:13-14).

Some things have never changed.  There are those who set rules up as the thing itself; whether or not they actually follow them is another matter.  The Lord God, who loves us, created us, and has given us the opportunity for salvation.  This is what our faith is all about.  Yes, our behavior matters, but that is what we do, not who we are.  Who we are in the Lord, is what all of this is all about.

Lord, sift my heart so that I would not mix these things up and chase after those who insist upon right practice.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that in relationship with You I would abide by what is right and fitting for the sake of the relationship You have established with me.  Do not let me think that my behavior, or being pleasing in Your sight, is the condition by which we have a relationship.  You have given me Your word first.

Jesus, You died for the forgiveness of our sins, taking our place on the cross, so that we would be freed from sin’s power.  Sin brings death, but You give life.  You have not freed me to do as I please, but You have freed me to do what is pleasing to the Father.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life which You have established so that I would not fall into the age-old trap of trying to live the law as the thing itself.  Guide me in learning how to love You and my neighbor as You would have me love.  Amen.

“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.  Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ” (Galatians 6:11-12).

In the example of Paul, one works as long as one is able.  The idea of going off into the sunset to do what you please is foreign to the idea of following Christ.  In Christ, we are all called to the tasks of working while there is time to do the work.  In Paul’s day they did not have glasses, so He would have had to write large to see what he was doing.  More important, he worked up to the end of his time in this age.

Lord, let me not go the way of the world and stop working when there are things I can do.  Guide me in the ways You would have me go and give me the fortitude to continue doing what You give me to do.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life and keep me far from those things in this world which would hinder my walk in and with You.  May I work while there is within me the ability to work.

Lord Jesus, You came and did the work that was needed that we all might have the opportunity to abide with You forever.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life that I would now and always walk in the eternal way and not give in to the pressures of this world.  Let me leave this life “Writing with large letters” that others may hear from me the truth of the Gospel.  Amen.

“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” (Galatians 6:10).

Are you able to begin to grasp what the Lord is up to?  He is turning those who follow Him from being centered upon the self to looking beyond.  This is a beginning point.  Do see that the Lord takes what He has created and turns it away from sin (slaying it on the cross) and toward Himself as you become a willing lover of His will and way.  Come then and live into the opportunity which is yours in Christ.

Lord, I begin to see these things, but the world comes and hammers at them so that I become confused.  Help me Lord to see through the dark clouds of this world’s thinking that I may learn how to abide in You and You in me.  Lead me ever deeper into the reality given by grace and lived through faith.  Let me clearly see the opportunities that will come my way this day and utilize them according to the Father’s will.

Thank You Lord Jesus for making possible the hope which is mine through You.  Guide me, Lord, through the opportunities You give that I may learn how to always abide in You and the way You are teaching me.  Show me those places where I can reach out.  Show me the ways I can become a little more like what You are creating me to be.  Guide me, Lord, in the way and truth of life.  Amen.  

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Galatians 6:8-9).

This principle is true and we see it in the lives of others who enter into a sinful lifestyle believing they are exempt from the recompense of their deeds.  No one is exempt.  It is a truth that this belief in our difference is common to us all.  Confess it and live knowing these things apply to You as well as everyone else.  Sow what is right and good that the goodness of the Lord would flourish in You.

Lord, teach me what is right and good.  Teach me where there are those places in my life when I am believing that these things do not apply to me.  Guide me that I may be good soil that is able to grow what needs to grow in me.  You alone are able to help me bear fruit.  Prepare me that I may become the kind of person that my faith hopes I will be.  Let me not lose the love of what is good.

Lord Jesus, You persevered to the end.  Help me learn again how to abide in You knowing that You are always abiding in me.  Lead me this day, O Lord, in those ways You know I need to go that I may humbly abide with You in readiness for all that You have in mind for me.  Let me not sow corruption but reap the good fruit of the Spirit.  Let me not look at what I produce, but at You for all things.  Amen.

“The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:6-7).

This is not a law, but a reality.  We sometimes think that where our thoughts end up are a very private matter, but not to God.  He who sees all things know the way of our hearts.  We are to work on being whom we proclaim and living the faith in word and deed.  Be thankful to the One who gives all good gifts and live in the truth of His will and way knowing He sees all things.

Lord, help me to be consistent in thoughts and in deeds.  There are temptations and it is not these things I am talking about, but where I do not do what I ought and then pretend something else to mask my sinfulness.  Let me share with others as others have shared with me.  Help me to learn how to be generous, giving, and thoughtful with all whom I meet.  Lead me in the way I need to go.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is needed.  You know what hinders our hearts.  You know those places where the Spirit needs to be in control.  Bring me to the place where I am what You know I can be and have removed those things which hinder my life in You.  Give me Your heart, Lord, that I would walk as You walked in this age and live a life that is pleasing in the Father’s sight.  Amen.

“But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.  For each one will bear his own load” (Galatians 6:4-5).

A life that includes meditation is a part of living the life that Christ offers.  Introspection and true assessment bring one to realize that the only one with whom you are in competition is the old Adam who seeks to destroy.  Come then and live into the life that is offered and do the work the Lord gives you knowing that what He will do is build you up in the likeness of Christ, our Savior.

Lord, help me enter into the vineyard and once again seek to do what You give me to do.  Let me not worry about what my neighbor is doing, but instead simply do what You give me to do.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You would have me go, doing what You give me to do, and contemplating these things that I may learn under Your Spirit’s direction to do what is needed.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to be tested.  Guide me, Lord, in the way that leads to eternal life.  Guard my heart against all false things and teach me to be constantly discerning.  Help me, O Lord, that I may day by day become more like You.  Give me eyes to see the progress, not as the world sees it, but as You show me.  Let me appeal to You alone for approval that I would have nothing to boast of except You.  Amen.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Galatians 6:2-3).

Who are you?  We tend to sinfully think more highly of ourselves than we ought.  We all go through the same motions and, by and large, have the same issues.  Share with one another and live in peace in-so-far as you are concerned with others.  This is enough work for each one of us because we do struggle with thinking ourselves exempt from the things that tempt all of us.

Lord, teach me to the depths of my heart that I am indeed no different than any of my neighbors.  (There but for the grace of God go I.) Guide me in the goodness of Your love to see others in the same way I see myself and in all these things to be honest about what I see.  Teach me to truly accept and love my neighbor as one created in Your image and loved by You as You love all equally.  Guide me in Your way and truth, Lord.

Lord Jesus, You died that all would have the opportunity to come through You and to You for eternity.  Lead me in the upward way You have made possible by grace.  Guide me to realize that in You there is great love and hope.  In all things, lead me to become like You.  Begin with today and help me see the changes You are making in me that I may willingly take on the challenge of seeing all others through Your eyes.  Amen.