"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." - Galatians 6:1

In July 2009, Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church in Shelbyville, Tennessee discovered that the minister of youth and church administrator had embezzled $100,000. Pastor Charles Lohn had taken the money. For Pastor Jonathan Sims, what made the situation even more stressful was that he had been "like a father" to Lohn since high school. The church turned the matter over to civil authorities. "If he had been transparent with the church, this might could have been avoided," Pastor Sims said. "I couldn't protect him from this. A crime had been committed." Pastor Sims also knew that he "could not stop what was about to happen. It grieved my heart." On Aug. 2, 2009, the church voted unanimously to remove Lohn from its fellowship. "Our only goal was to bring Charles back to Christ," Pastor Sims said. Pastor Sims observed that church discipline is "all but lost in our churches today." As for Charles, he told the congregation that he knew he would eventually be caught. "I even prayed to God for that day to come." But Charles was unprepared for the day of reckoning. It wasn't until six months later, while he was imprisoned, that he experienced heartfelt sorrow. After serving a total of nine months in prison, Charles began the restoration to fellowship process. Though he was not a member of the church, he met weekly for about 16 months with two accountability groups, one of which dealt with finances and the other with spiritual issues. On Sunday January 22, 2012, Charles Lohn was restored to fellowship in the church. He said before the congregation: "I stand before you today to say thank you for loving my family, for loving me. I also thank you for caring for and providing for my family even after everything I put you through."

Everyone needs forgiveness from his or her sins. It is important to gently restore those caught up in sin. Today in prayer, do not shrink away from rebuking sin in others’ lives, but seek to gently restore them to faith in Christ.

"This perfection is the restoration of man to the state of holiness from which he fell, by creating him anew in Christ Jesus, and restoring to him that image and likeness of God which he has lost." - Adam Clark

God's Word: "Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved." - Psalm 80:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS

"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." - Galatians 5:26

In 1971, Meryl Streep made her professional stage debut in The Playboy of Seville. In 1977, she began her film career in the movie Julia.

She has gone on to make more than 30 films and she has received 17 Academy Award nominations, winning three of them. She has also received 26 Golden Globe nominations, winning eight of them. Meryl has received more nominations than any other actor in the history of either award.

During an interview, she talked about film industry awards and how they can lead to conceit: "It's sort of exhausting, this self-congratulatory atmosphere in which the movie community lives. It's unbearable. We're not that important in the world, but we certainly all think we are. I shouldn't talk about it, I mean I'm really grateful that my work is recognized, but boy, we've gotten a little bloated. It's so grand and the outfits are so incredible and the critique of how everybody looks and the desperation of people to make an impact-it really gets to me."

Conceit is another name for the sin of pride - be on your guard against it! Today in prayer, confess any sin of conceit in your life and seek to walk humbly with the Lord.

"Conceit is self-given; be careful." – John Wooden

God's Word: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

David Suchet is a well-know British actor, known primarily for his portrayal of Agatha Christie's eccentric detective, Hercule Poirot. In an interview in The Strand magazine, he was asked about his philosophy of life. David responded how his faith in Christ gave him peace:

"Well, I'm a Christian by faith. I like to think it sees me through a great deal of my life. I very much believe in the principles of Christianity and the principles of most religions, actually-that one has to abandon oneself to a higher good. I think to accept the now and to live in the present is the most important thing for all of us to learn to do-to be able to live in the present and not let the quality of the present be coloured by the fear or anxiety of the future or the pain of the past."

The Lord has called us to follow Him by faith and we will have peace in Him. Today in prayer, thank Jesus for His peace.

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." - C.S. Lewis

God's Word: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS

"The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" - Galatians 5:14

In September 2012, eight-year-old Wyatt Erber of Edwardsville, Illinois won $1000 in a scavenger hunt sponsored by a local bank. Wyatt knew immediately what he would do with his new winnings; he was going to donate it to his 2-year-old neighbor Cara Kielty who was battling leukemia.

Cara's disease is the reason Wyatt entered the scavenger hunt in the first place.

"He was really aware of what cancer is," said Wyatt's mom, Noelle Erber. "When he found out Cara had cancer, his heart sank."

The third-grader's act of generosity did not go unnoticed. A local charity matched his gift to the Kieltys. A man in Canada heard about the story and sent a letter praising Wyatt, along with $100 to give to the Kielty's for Cara's treatment.

Wyatt's mother said she couldn't be more proud of her son.

"He's always been a very sweet boy," she said. "I'm very lucky to call him my son."

Are you loving others to Jesus Christ? Today in prayer, seek to love your neighbor for Jesus' glory.

"Love is an act of endless forgiveness" - Peter Ustinov

God's Word: ""The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."" - Mark 12:29-31

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." - Galatians 5:13

In August 2012, and after 61 years in the ministry, the Reverend Louis Johnson retired for the second time.

He had retired in 1988, but felt God’s call to minister in Bells Springs Church in Bell Springs, Tennessee. He was faithful in preaching Bible-based sermons every Sunday to the children and adults for more than 18 years at that church.

During his 61 years of ministry, he estimates that he prepared and delivered 4,400 Sunday sermons, participated in 80 to 90 revivals, filled an estimated 300 speaking engagements, officiated at between 750 and 775 funerals, and performed between 260 and 270 weddings.

However, the folks at Bell Springs expect that he will continue to serve others in need in some manner.

“It is as much a part of him as breathing,” one member said.

When we serve one another, we glorify our Father in Heaven. Today in prayer, thank Jesus that He showed us how to serve. Seek to serve others to bring glory to Christ.

"No man was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.” – Calvin Coolidge

God's Word: "The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." - Matthew 23:11-12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1

Victor King was born in 1980 in Singapore. He grew up in a Christian family, but he was a rebel. By the time he was 17 years old, he had dropped out of school and became a gangster. "I became a very heavy smoker and I got hooked on alcohol," said Victor. "I was full of obscenities and got addicted to pornography.  I started womanizing and stayed away from home most of the time. There were times I got involved in armed robberies.  Most of my friends were drug addicts and ex-convicts. This troubled life took control over me.  I was so lost in my sin." Victor joined the Singapore Armed Forces, but that did not help. "I got himself into the army prison (detention barracks) for going A.W.O.L (unauthorized absence) and for my bad attitude.  I was also brought back to the police station a couple of times.  My lifestyle kept pointing me to the prison, but I would always escape without getting caught." But in 2003, things changed. "My slavery to the devil came to an end,” said Victor. He had met a Christian girl and he gave his life to Christ. Said Victor: "Nine years of heavy smoking ended.  Six years of alcohol addiction was gone, and as time went by, God supernaturally took me out of the gang; delivered me from vulgarities, anger, womanizing, pornography, filthy lust and many more bad habits. The Lord made me see women in a different way. I became a new creation in Christ.  And I was also healed of a 10-year urinary bladder problem.  Amazing grace!  What man could not do, Jesus did. The people who knew me were shocked at the changes in me." Victor now is an evangelist, telling others they too can be free in Christ.   

There are many things that try to ensnare us in sin. But only Christ can free us to be who we were created to be. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that in Him we are free from sin.

"We find freedom when we find God; we lose it when we lose Him.” – Paul E. Scherrer

God's Word: "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." - 1 Peter 2:16

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS

"Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you [from us], so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you." - Galatians 4:17-18

In 1936, 36-year old Eugene Ormandy began a 44-year tenure with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He would conduct between 100 to 180 concerts each year.  Ormandy's conducting style was praised for its opulent sound and he often favored the classics of Beethoven, Brahms, Haydn, and Mozart. Once while leading the orchestra in a piece written by Brahms, he was leading with zeal and the orchestra was boldly following him. The piece was moving toward a crescendo and Brahms wrote in the margin of the music "As loud as possible!" Ormandy vigorously waved his arms to raise the volume. The Maestro punched the air with his baton summoning as much energy and sound he could from his musicians. A few bars later, Brahms noted "Louder Still!" Ormandy zealously gave his all and violently waved his arms to get the most sound out of every instrument. And with one thrust of enthusiasm with his baton, he dislocated his shoulder! He passionately gave his all for the music.

Zeal is not evil in itself. We should only be zealous to know the Lord and to make Him known. Today in prayer, thank Christ for the passion that He has for you and seek to be zealous only in knowing Christ deeper.

"Zeal without knowledge is fire without light." – Thomas Fuller

God's Word: "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." - Romans 12:11

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS

"What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me." - Galatians 4:15

Adoniram Judson was an American missionary to Burma from 1813 to 1850. When he first arrived in country, he did not know how to relate to the people. He tried dressing like them, but then realized he would always be considered a foreigner. He handed out Gospel tracts in Burmese, but that brought indifference. But Adoniram so burned with the joy of the Lord and the desire to preach the Gospel. Before he had learned the Burmese language, he walked up to a Burman and just embraced him. The man went home and reported that he had seen an angel. Adoniram would go on to accomplish many great things, including writing a dictionary and a Bible translation in the Burmese language. But he was best known to those in Burma for his walk with the Lord and the joy he had in Christ. In fact, God's glory so shone out of his face that the Burmese people called him "Mr. Glory Face."

When we get close to Jesus in prayer and in His Word, there should be joy in our lives. Today in prayer, praise the Lord with all of your heart and seek His friendship in all that you do.

"The opposite of joy is not sorrow. It is unbelief." – Leslie Weatherhead

God's Word: "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." - John 15:10-11

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS

"So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." - Galatians 4:7

In 1987, a group of Arab slave raiders rode in on horseback and invaded the Sudanese Dinka village of Aweil in Bahr el Gazal. They killed everyone they could catch, except for the women and children. They took Santino Garang, a young seven-year-old Dinka boy, and sold him as a slave.

Santino was sold to a man named Ibrahim who for ten years treated Santino harshly.

Santino was raised Christian. His desire to worship was mocked by his master, who told him every day for10 years that he had no business worshiping, since he was of no more value than a donkey. He was charged with fetching water and tending his master’s camels. One Sunday morning, he heard singing. The singing of hymns and worship were food for his lonely soul. His heart got the best of him. He followed the melodies to their source and sat in the Christian service — a church service like those he remembered as a boy.

His comfort and joy were to be short lived. When he returned home to his master, several camels had escaped and were unaccounted for. Santino searched frantically for the camels. But before he could find them, his master flew into a fit of rage and swore he would kill Santino and do to him what had been done to Jesus…he would CRUCIFY HIM.

After brutally beating Santino on the head and all over his body, Ibrahim laid him out on a wooden plank. He then nailed Santino to the plank by driving nine-inch nails through his hands, knees and feet. He then poured acid on his legs to inflict even greater pain and finally left him for dead. He lay crucified to a wooden board for seven days.

He slipped in and out of consciousness and delirium. Finally, the slave owner’s son pulled out the nails and carried Santino to a medical clinic.

Santino was bought by Christian slave redeemers and was freed.  He took the name of Joseph, because he too was sold into slavery and then was freed. He recovered physically from his torture. Joseph has also forgiven Ibrahim for all that he did to him.

We were once slaves to sin, but now our Heavenly Father has adopted us as His son. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He has made you His child.

"Formerly slaves, Christians, are now both sons and heirs." – James Montgomery Boice

God's Word: "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" - Ephesians 1:4-5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS

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

On May 1, 1492, the King Ferdinand of Spain announced that all Jews living in Spain had 90 days to leave the country. Christopher Columbus recorded the event: “In the same month in which their Majesties [Ferdinand and Isabella] issued the edict that all Jews should be driven out of the kingdom and its territories, in the same month they gave me the order to undertake with sufficient men my expedition of discovery to the Indies.”

So what drove the king to order the expulsion of all Jews from Spain? They were good citizens but they were not Christians. The king’s spiritual advisor was Father Tomas de Torquemada. Torquemada believed that as long as the Jews remained in Spain, they would negatively influence the tens of thousands of recent Jewish converts to Christianity to continue practicing Judaism.

More than 200,000 Jews left Spain that year. Many ended up in modern day Turkey. The ruler of the country, Sultan Bajazet, welcomed them warmly. "How can you call Ferdinand of Aragon a wise king," he was fond of asking, "the same Ferdinand who impoverished his own land and enriched ours?"

Prejudice impoverishes us. We are all equal before Christ’s throne. 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.

"Beware lest we mistake our prejudices for our convictions.” – Dr. Harry Ironside

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 2012, 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

At the end of World War II, one of Hitler’s bodyguards was a soldier named Kurt Wagner. He adored Hitler and reverenced him as a god. At the end of the war, with Hitler dead in Berlin bunker, Kurt’s faith was shattered and he planned commit suicide.

Going to the YMCA for a final cup of coffee, he picked up a discarded Gospel tract, "God's simple plan of Salvation" by Ford Porter. Kurt read it and then held it up and called out: "Is there anyone here who can help me understand this tract?"

A Methodist minister was in the YMCA and heard his plea. He took the tract and shared with Kurt the meaning of God’s grace. Kurt went to Bible school and seminary. He became the pastor of two Methodist churches in the suburbs of Frankfurt. He built a four-story building to take wayward young men off the streets and to reach them for Jesus.

It is all about God’s grace toward 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 2012, 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

In April 1975, as South Vietnam fell, tens of thousands of South Vietnamese fled to the east. Many flew in helicopters hoping to find a US ship to land on. The USS Kirk, a small destroyer escort, was one of the first ships the helicopters spotted.

"It looked like bees flying all over the place. And they were just going due east, trying to find someplace to land," said Paul Jacobs, the captain of the Kirk.

The South Vietnamese military helicopters were packed with pilots and their families and friends.

The crew of the Kirk began directing a helicopter to the landing zone. As soon as all the people were safely aboard, the crew pushed the helicopter into the water and directed a second helicopter to land. The scene was reported over and over again.

Then amid the chaos, a larger helicopter moved toward the Kirk. It was a Chinook CH-47, too large to land on the Kirk. The crew signaled to the pilot that he could not land. The pilot understood and began to hover 15 feet over the Kirk. Sailors rushed to the fantail and as a young mother dropped her 3 children, the Americans caught them. Then the adults jumped to their safety. The Chinook pilot, Ba Nguyen, then crashed the helicopter into the ocean. Miraculously, Ba survived. He and his family were among some 200 refugees that were rescued from 16 helicopters by the Kirk's crew over a day and a half.

Christ’s death on the Cross for our sins was the largest rescue event in history. Today in prayer, give thanks to Jesus that He saved you.

“By the cross we know the gravity of sin and the greatness of God’s love towards us.” – John Chrysostom

God’s Word: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.” –  1 Timothy 2:5-6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, 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

On the morning of October 11, 2011, Fausto Lopez was late for his second job as a security officer. He is someone who hates to be late for work. So he gunned his car on the southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike in Miami. He reached speeds of 120 mph and wove in and out of traffic.

Lopez’s fast and erratic driving caught the attention of Florida highway trooper D.J. Watts. She chased Lopez for a minute before Lopez realized he was being pulled over.

Officer Watts thought that the car might be stolen and Lopez was driving at high speeds to evade her. She pulled her weapon and ordered Lopez out of the car.

Lopez was dumbfounded that he had been pulled over, because his primary job is a Miami Police Officer.

Officer Lopez was charged with a misdemeanor and released.

No one is perfect, even those who are tasked to enforce our laws. 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 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS

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

On October 12, 2009, Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was arrested. He was the pastor of a network of house churches who had protested the government's decision to force all children, including his own Christian children, to read the Quran. The charges were later changed to apostasy and evangelism to Muslims. In 2010, he was sentenced to death and the ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran. According to Islamic Sharia Law, an apostate has three days to recant. Pastor Youcef held his ground and refused to recant his faith in Christ. Christians around the world prayed and appealed for his release. In a letter, obtained by Worthy News while he was in prison, the pastor wrote that, "the Word of God tells us to expect to suffer hardship and dishonor for the sake of His Name." In a letter to his congregation, he told them "Our Christian confession is not acceptable if we ignore this statement, if we do not manifest the patience of the Lord in our sufferings." The pastor stressed that, "Anybody ignoring it will be ashamed in that day" when Christians will meet the Lord. "Let us remember that sometimes the leap of faith leads us towards some impasses. Just as the Word led the sons of Israel leaving Egypt toward the impasse of the Red sea," Pastor Youcef wrote. "These impasses are midway between promises of God and their fulfillment and they challenge our faith. Believers are to accept these challenges as a part of their spiritual course." Pastor Youcef was scheduled to be retried on September 8, 2012, but suddenly the 34-year old pastor was acquitted of apostasy and freed. "Thank you to everyone that has supported me with your prayers," he said

No matter what the 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 2012, 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

In 2008, Richard Blumenthal was running for the US Senate from Connecticut. He told a Connecticut veterans group that year: "We have learned something important since the days I served in Vietnam…" At a Veterans Day event later in 2008, he said, "I wore the uniform in Vietnam and many came back to all kinds of disrespect." Blumenthal recalled being "spat on" and claimed "we couldn't wear our uniforms" when "we returned from Vietnam."

Years earlier, at a 2003 rally of support for U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan he said, "When we returned, we saw nothing like this…" and has often made reference to "the days that I served in Vietnam."

Unfortunately, none of this was true. Blumenthal stayed out of combat zones through five deferments and then getting a stateside spot in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.  He never went to Vietnam.

The New York Times broke the story about Blumenthal’s hypocrisy. Retired Colonel Oliver North wrote the following about Blumenthal: “His deceptions and distortions had but one self-serving end: To advance his political career by establishing affinity with veterans and their families, no matter what price they had really paid.”

Hypocrisy is not a white lie, it 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 2012, 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

Soon after Hurricane Katrina struck Alabama, Daphne German found her calling. It wasn’t to relax on the sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast in her golden years. The great-grandmother saw the great need for food, clothing and shelter and formed the non-profit Bayou Recovery Project.

“Daphne loves people and puts that love into action by giving herself unselfishly to help and teach them,” said Carol Ogle, a relief ministry coordinator. “She has been able to use virtually every resource she could find to help in the repair of damaged homes and crumpled lives.”

Daphne picks up vanloads of residents for Sunday worship and cooks for teenagers before each midweek Bible study.

Inspired by her grandmother who left biscuits out many years ago for homeless families; Daphne said that helping others is at the core of her faith.

She has survived breast cancer and lost a husband, but she continues to love the poor.

She said she honors the religious mandate to “feed the hungry and poor and widow and orphan.”

“It’s all about loving people” said Daphne. “I think about it all the time.”

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 2012, 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 1961, 33-year old Dr. Paul Carlson followed the Lord’s call to serve 6 months as a medical missionary doctor to the Congo.

Upon his return to California, he established his own practice. But soon he was unfulfilled he felt the Lord’s calling again. Finally, he told a friend, “I’m going back. I can’t stand doing hernias and hemorrhoids anymore.”

In July 1963, Dr. Carlson returned to Stanleyville in the Republic of the Congo. He oversaw an 80-bed hospital and leper colony. He soon earned the nickname Monganga Paul, a name revealing a close and loving relationship with the local Congolese people meaning “My Doctor Paul.”

In August 1964, during the civil war in the Congo, Simba rebels took Stanleyville. Paul was captured and looked after many of the other prisoners. A fellow prisoner, a Belgian engineer, would later write of Dr. Carlson: “I have never seen a man behave like that.” He was “the one real man I have ever met in my life.”

On November 24, 1964 some Simba soldiers opened fire into a crowd, and Carlson and several others ran to a wall to escape. Before Carlson scaled the wall, he urged a clergyman to go first, and as Paul was climbing the wall, he was shot and killed by rebel gunfire.

The news of Dr. Paul Carlson’s ministry and death brought worldwide attention. Many Christians prayed for those in Africa and many followed the Lord’s call to serve there.

The Lord calls each of us into 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 2012, 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

During the late 1960’s, Samuel L. Lewis established “The Dances of Universal Peace.” The dances combine chants from world faiths with dancing, whirling, and a variety of movement with singing.

“I started out with Dervish Dances,” said Lewis. “Then Indian ones. Now I am ready to restore or start Christian mystical dances. These dances are dedicated to the Temple of Understanding in Washington D.C.”

Dances were originally performed at camps and meetings with a distinctly new age and alternative feel but have increasingly come to be offered in diverse places of worship, schools, colleges, prisons, hospices, residential homes for those with special needs, and holistic health centers.  The Dances have since developed into a global movement. There are more than 500 dances, which celebrate Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Aramaic, Native American, Native Middle Eastern, Celtic, Native African, and Goddess traditions. This made up religion members in 28 countries.

Our faith is grounded in history. It centers on the person of Jesus Christ, the one true God. It is not an invention of man, but rather the revelation from God Himself. Today in prayer, thank Jesus for revealing Himself to you.

"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 2012, 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

John W. Loftus was a devout evangelical Christian, an ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and an ardent apologist for Christianity. He had earned three degrees--in philosophy, theology, and philosophy of religion—and he was adept at using rational argumentation to defend the faith. But over the years, as he ministered to various congregations and taught at Christian colleges, doubts about the credibility of key Christian tenets began to creep into his thinking.

By the late 1990s he experienced a full-blown crisis of faith, brought on by emotional upheavals in his personal life as well as the gathering weight of the doubts he had long entertained.

Loftus abandoned his faith in Christ and became an atheist. He uses ‘scientific’ and ‘historical’ reasons to deny Christianity. Today he states he is guilt free, but instead of enjoying the freedom he says he has, he writes a blog trying to debunk Christianity. 

We cannot let personal issues or other reasons get between us and Jesus. Today in prayer, pray for those who began in faith following Christ, but now are distracted with things of this world.

"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 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS

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

Christian author Philip Yancy wrote about a British Conference on comparative religions that occurred several decades ago. There were experts from around the world who had gathered together to debate what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. So, they began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? No, other religions had different versions of God's appearing in human form. Resurrection? No, again other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis wandered into the room. "What's the ruckus about?" he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace."

After some discussion, the conferees had to agree.

Yancy concluded: "The notion of God's love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to be against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist 8-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of Karma, the Jewish Covenant, and the Muslim code of law, each of these offer a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God's love unconditional."

It is by God’s grace that we are saved. It is His gift to us. 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 2012, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN GALATIANS