Galatians 6:11-18 Writing Large Letters

Format for Your Devotions

Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.

Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.

Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.

Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.

Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?

Step 5: Apply this to your own life.

Step 6: Prayer

My Example Devotion: June 26, 2020 Galatians 6:11-18

Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

(Understanding the Text / Revelation of God) This is Paul’s summary of his main points in the letter.  He starts out by pointing out that he is writing to them himself rather than using a scribe.  His point is that he cares about them and thinks that they are important and that what he is saying is directly from him.  Then he reiterates his main points:

1. The people who are pushing the Galatians to be circumcised do not care about the Galatians.  Instead, they are counting coup, trying to show how many converts to Judaism they have made.  These people are trying to claim the Messiah while holding on to the past without realizing that to claim the Messiah is to claim the cross.  The cross did away with the need for sacrifices.  The cross healed our sins.  That cross gets the Judaizers in trouble with their fellow Jews, but if they were to have converts to Judaism, their fellow Jews would tolerate their eccentric beliefs.
2. The circumcised Jews found it impossible to keep the law in the manner that they thought it was to be kept.  The Jewish Christians who were trying to hold on to the law were not actually keeping the law themselves.  Thus, they only wanted to add lawkeepers to their ranks so that they could brag about their own accomplishments, not because they thought that keeping the law was right in itself.
3. Paul does not boast in the Galatians’ conversion from idol worshipping.  That was the accomplishment of Jesus on the cross and the work of the Holy Spirit.  Paul says that he has nothing in his life to boast about, except that Jesus died for Him and rose from the grave to be his Savior.  Because of that action, Paul no longer desires the accomplishments and pleasures of the world.  Instead, he only wants Jesus.
4. Whether a person is circumcised or not is meaningless now.  Instead, walking in the Spirit is all that counts.  We must become a new creation in the likeness of Jesus to be saved, not try to use forms to cover our sins.
5. When we walk in the Spirit, we are the people of Israel, the people of God, and we will be blessed.  It is not through forms but transformation that we are saved.  The Spirit works in us, and we are new.  Then we are the true children of Abraham.
6. Paul has the marks on his body that prove his sincerity in working for the Galatians and wanting them to be saved.  The proof of his sincerity in working for the Galatians came through beatings, scourgings, and stoning.  The scars are still there to prove that he cared for them and was willing to undergo pain and death in order to bring them salvation.  His scars are his letter of recommendation to them that he is credible.

He ends by reminding them of Jesus’ mercy and how he wants Jesus to be with them.

(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I need to be aware that there are “Christians” who do not really care about others.  They are just pressing their own opinions and counting how many people that they can recruit to their side of the issue.  I need to never be one of those Christians.  I may need to suffer in order to bring Jesus’ love into the hearts of others.  Help me to go to You to have the strength for that because I hate pain or any kind.  Please give me the love that I do not have.  I pray to walk with You in the Spirit and to never leave You.  I pray to not focus on forms but to be transformed.