“Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 NLT
God’s Word, the Bible, is often referred to as a living book. It is alive today speaking truth and instructing us how to live. Words that were written throughout the centuries can be applied today for they are relevant and they come from almighty God. God did not leave us in this world to work out it for ourselves but gave us His timeless instruction book to follow.
The church at Thessalonica was one of the apostle Paul’s dearest churches. He gave thanks to God for their readiness in accepting the gospel and being such a good example to other churches in spreading the Word while enduring under persecution. Paul prayed for them and asked them to pray for him. Specificaly, in his second letter to the church, Paul asks them to pray for him and his ministry team. What was Paul’s primary concern, “Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes.” (2Thess.3:1 nlt) Paul prayed that the gospel message he was preaching would be effective, would spread, and would not slow down. He also prayed for protection that would hinder the Word from being preached.
Many Christian churches today have missionaries they either send out or support the work of mission agencies that are reaching others for Christ. A major part of that support is prayer. I do not believe there has been one missionary I heard in my lifetime when asked what their biggest need is did not say prayer. It is vital. They know it. We should know also as churches and individual Christians how important prayer is for those who present the gospel, especially those in hostile environments. Paul asked for prayer for himself and his mission team. God’s Word gives us an example of praying for those who present the gospel. May we be praying for missionaries around the world. They are asking us to pray for them.
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” Colossians 3:14-15 NLT
November has rolled around once again and as fast as it came upon us it will exit just as fast. As we think about the month of November what comes to mind, at least in the United States, is Thanksgiving. The closer we get to Thanksgiving Day the more featured stories of what we are thankful for will emerge. Most are very thoughtful and engaging placing ourselves in agreement with our own experiences. Some are very emotional for a variety of reasons and have way of relating to many people. And then most of us have our own stories to tell which may also influence others as the previous two examples have.
Sharing our Thanksgiving stories (what we are thankful for) with the world in general is commendable. We may influence others by expressing our thanks to God for every situation that has come into our lives over the past year. It is another opportunity to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs it. May we take advantage of it.
Just as we want to encourage and influence the world around us we should want to do the same with our church family, the body of Christ. Sharing our stories of thanks with our brothers and sisters in Christ is both encouraging to us as those who hear it. Most of all it blesses God and gives Him the glory. Let us start this Sunday in sharing what the Lord has done for us with those in our church family. May it not end on Thanksgiving weekend but be on-going through the Christmas season and into the New Year!
‘Discipline’ is defined as; 1. a branch of learning, 2. training that develops self-control, efficiency, etc. 3. strict control to enforce obedience, 4. Treatment that corrects or punishes. Careful examination of the definition of ‘discipline’ validates these are encouraging words for they seek to train, educate and prompt one to see the error of their ways. Discipline is not pleasant at the time received, just ask any child. But parents and guardians realize the necessity to correct a child of wrongdoing in the early stages of life. They also do it out of sincere love. Adults also face discipline when breaking laws resulting in punishment from those in authority or going against company or workplace policies. A company I worked for in retail management had one store if a manager was transferred there, you knew it was for disciplinary reasons. The goal was always to train, educate and prompt one to see the error of their ways.
Our heavenly Father disciplines His spiritual children as earthly parents discipline their children. He does it out of love for us. Some of the discipline we receive from the Lord is for immediate results for something we have done, but most is for our spiritual growth to live holy lives. It is for our good that the Lord disciplines us, and we should not despise it as if we do not deserve it. The writer of the book of Hebrews says, “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, ‘My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.’” (Heb.12:5 nlt)
Be careful not to view every terrible thing that happens to you it is God disciplining you. We live in a sinful world, and dreadful things happen all the time. If you are sincere in walking with the Lord, you will be able to discern His loving hand of discipline on you when it occurs. And remember, “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” (Heb.12:11 nlt)
“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” Matthew 18:7 NLT
The Christian church is a family, a local family within the universal church family. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, His church, and we who belong to Him by faith are not only members of the church but are part of the family of God. Being part of a family comes with responsibility. We are to look out for the well-being of each other by praying for each other, helping those in need, supporting, and encouraging one another, and most of all not lead anyone into sin disgracing the name of our Lord Jesus.
Jesus said, “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin.” Those affiliated with this broken and fallen world will indeed tempt people to sin. Jesus says it is inevitable; it is their nature. But those in the family of God have a new nature. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2Cor.5:17 nlt) Jesus warns us in Matthew 18:7-9, that even though temptations will come, woe to those in the family of God for the sorrow that will come upon them if His children are the tempters. Graphic illustrations are used by our Lord in verse 8 and 9 to convey the seriousness of leading someone into sin directly or indirectly. We are able to easily lead someone astray by our actions as we are observed by others in the family. All of us have a responsibility to each other to live godly lives.
The Booth Brothers, one of Southern Gospels most recognized modern-day groups, recorded the song “Welcome to the family” which embraces the thought of the church as a family, the family of God. The bridge and third stanza are as follows.
“When I count my blessings it’s easy to see My brothers and sisters that mean so much to me
I think about the many times they’ve kept me in their prayers And the countless ways they’ve always shown me that they care And I know they’ll still walk with me no matter what’s ahead Yes so much more than just their words, their lives have always said.”
Well-lived godly lives is our ‘responsibility in the family.’
“This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.” Galatians 1:1 NLT
This week in Biblical Insights we begin a new series in the New Testament book of Galatians. Our opening verse tells us the apostle Paul authored this book which was actually a letter written to the churches in Galatia. These were churches Paul founded on his first missionary journey in cities throughout ancient Asia Minor. This is the only epistle Paul wrote addressing more than one city. Here he is addressing those in the Galatia region. The main theme in Paul’s letter to the Galatians is ‘justification by faith,’ which Paul preached when establishing these churches. There are no works involved for one to come to Christ but to accept His free gift of salvation. The purpose for writing to the Galatian churches was to correct false teaching that was being spread after Paul had left to continue his journey. These false teachers were agitators who did not like Paul and attacked him personally as not being qualified to preach let alone refer to himself as an apostle. They accused Paul of preaching a false gospel when he preach salvation by faith alone. The Judaizers, as they were called, were adding works and Jewish traditions to faith, and therefore distorting the gospel message of ‘salvation by grace through faith alone.’
The book of Galatians is sometimes referred to as the ‘Magna Charta of Christian Liberty’ or ‘Declaration of Independence of Christian liberty.’ Martin Luther called Galatians his ‘Catherine von Bora’ after his wife. He loved her and he loved the book of Galatians and said, “I am married to it,” as Luther was married to his wife. The central truth in the book is again, ‘man is justified by faith in Jesus Christ,’ nothing else is needed. This was the core of Luther’s ministry as well.
It was important to Paul but vital for the churches to recognize Paul’s apostleship. He claimed to be a direct appointee by Jesus Christ and God the Father. Paul’s message was serious, simple and to the point but he would speak it with authority. Paul needed to seen as a true apostle with apostolic authority. His enemies did all they could to cast doubt on his credentials. So, Paul starts out by saying, “I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.” (Gal.1:1 nlt) Paul then gives them his greeting which will become his custom in the rest of his letters, “May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.” (Gal.1:2 nlt) After his initial greetings Paul jumps right into the gospel message stating Jesus gave up His life voluntarily according to Father’s plan to save us from our sins.
The Galatian churches started well but it wasn’t long before Paul had heard how quickly how the Judaizers were persuading them to turn away from the true gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News as Paul preached. What the people in Galatia were now being taught in Paul’s absence, Paul says, “is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.” (Gal.1:7 nlt) The Judaizers were deliberately twisting or perverting the gospel by adding traditions of the law to it. Part of what was taught was a Christian needed to be circumcised in the Jewish tradition. They reasoned Jesus was a Jew and Christianity has its root in the Jewish religion of the Old Testament. This distorts the simple message of belief in Jesus by faith as all that is needed. Jesus Himself said to Nicodemus, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn.3:16 nlt) Jesus did not say anything else needed to be added, including good works to earn your way to heaven. No, only simple faith in Christ as your savior is all that is required.
This was such a serious issue for the churches in Galatia and for churches today in 2026 that Paul boldly states with authority, “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.” (Gal.1:8 nlt) There is no other gospel. There is no other way. So many churches today are falling into the trap the early church fell into. People feel there needs to be something else, or good works to get them to heaven. Some are beginning to as we say ‘coexist’ and accept all religions as a way to get to heaven. You have had it said, ‘all roads lead to heaven.’ Well, what does Paul, who was appointed by Jesus as an apostle say? “I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.” (Gal.1:9 nlt)
This is serious business. If you believe the Bible is God’s Word you cannot possibly accept any other form of salvation. If you deny any part of the Bible referring to salvation or you add something, such as good deeds, or aligning with other religions of the world you are as Paul says of those who preach such things, ‘let that person be cursed.’ The word ‘cursed’ actually means ‘doomed to destruction.’ This all sounds frightening and it should, but beneath it all is the Good News Paul preaches about the love of God who sent His Son for us. Jesus Christ provided the way for us, the only way.
Next week Paul explains his call to apostleship………
October 31st is recognized around the world as Halloween or ‘All Hallows’ Eve.’ The meaning of ‘hallows’ is ‘saints’ in the Christian tradition, All Saints Day is November 1st. However, Halloween today is nothing about Christian saints and I will leave it there. Today is Reformation Day, the day celebrated by Christians in recognizing Martin Luther’s ‘95 Theses’ nailed to the University of Wittenberg’s chapel door in 1517.
Martin Luther was a German monk and a professor of biblical studies at the University of Wittenberg who became disillusioned with the error he saw in the Catholic church, particularly the selling of indulgences. He posted his ‘95 Theses’ to spark conversation and debate among his colleagues calling for reform in the Catholic church. This, however, led to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.
Luther was convinced through the reading of Scripture that salvation was by the grace of God alone and faith alone in Jesus Christ. It was not by any merit or works on our part that contributes to salvation and entrance into heaven. This was in contradiction to what he had observed within the church. Luther was also a staunch believer that every person should have access to the Bible and be able to read it for themselves. He had translated the entire Bible into German.
Stephen Nichols formerly of Ligonier Ministries writes, “The real main character in Reformation Day is not Luther. It’s the Word of God. What Luther discovered as a monk is that for centuries, the true teachings of the Word of God had been hidden by century upon century of tradition. That’s what Reformation Day is about: it’s about pulling back the cover and releasing the power of the Word of God and the beauty and the truth of the gospel. That’s why we celebrate Reformation Day.” (1)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He replied, ‘I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.’” Genesis 3:8-10 NLT
Guilt from sin has a way of creating a desire to run away and hide. Of course for most of us that is not possible, but the feeling is there. Will I be exposed? Will this shame go away? What if ‘so and so’ found out? I will just lay low for a while until time passes you say to yourself. You do not want to be around anyone. You cannot hide so you live with the guilt feelings. Your sin may never be exposed but you cannot get over the guilt.
Just as we cannot hide physically from others without a legitimate reason for our disappearance, we cannot hide from God. We may think by sheltering ourselves from others that also includes God. It does not. In fact, God knows why we are trying to hide ourselves while others do not. The Lord is aware of every sin we have committed. It is in His sight of vision. We cannot hide it or hide from Him. Laying low for a period of time will not keep the Lord from finding out..
Adam and Eve found this to be true after they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They knew they had sinned before God and instantly felt shame. Their first reaction was to run and hide, of course, after they tried to cover themselves. That didn’t work either. Adam and Eve could not hide from God and neither can we. Our shame may be unbearable but hiding from God will only prolong the situation. Perhaps the Lord is calling you in the midst of your garden of shame, answer Him with full confession, no excuses, and have God restore you to full fellowship with Him and quit hiding from God.
“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.” 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 NLT
The apostle Paul had been challenged several times on his missionary journeys as to his genuine faith and being accused of not being a true apostle. At the end of his second letter to the church at Corinth he told his readers to examine themselves to see if ‘their’ faith was truly genuine. The people saw themselves as true Christians but did not see Paul the same way. Paul was their spiritual father. “For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.” (1Cor.4:15 nlt) Paul presented them with some good old common sense, if his faith was not genuine neither was theirs. Paul preached the same gospel to them that he believed and they had accepted Christ as Paul preached it.
How could Paul’s readers test themselves to see if they were true faith believers in Christ? How can we do the same? Paul gives us a couple of surefire ways in his letter to the Galatians. In Galatians 6:6-10, Paul teaches the law of sowing and reaping. You plant what you sow. Sow good seed, get good fruit. If a person has truly received Christ eventually good fruit will be evident. Good deeds will become evident. Paul encourages them, “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” (Gal.6:10 nlt) And in chapter 2 Paul writes a true Christian is aware of the change that has taken place in them, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal.2:20 nlt)
Christians are saved by grace and we are not perfect. We will fail at times but can ask for forgiveness and we can test ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. If Christ is in you through the Holy Spirit you have passed the test. Have you tested yourself?
An innocent baby knows nothing of the evil in the world today. Soon enough that little one will realize this is a fallen world into which they were born. But there is something about that innocence that protects them from evil in their early years. They do not know evil exists and they are not being capable to think about it or get involved with it. As adults we have lost that innocence long ago, but there is a time to go back to that way of thinking.
The apostle Paul was writing to the troubled church in Corinth knowing they lacked wisdom and had a difficult time recognizing evil. He wrote to them, “do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil.” (1Cor.14:20 esv) Their thinking was misdirected and immature. Evil was having an effect on them. They were allowing evil to influence their lives by not thinking as mature adults as to its danger. Paul’s readers were acting as children, not infants, in rationalizing the effects of sin and evil. Paul encouraged them to think in a mature manner.
Today mature thinking is not only needed but essential in every Christian’s life. As adults we now know that evil is around us. To be infants in evil is for it to have no effect on us. In order for evil to have no effect on us we need to be mature in all our thinking. Mature thinking in the ways of God and proper Christian living come about by constant prayer and reading His Word. Living in a sinful world will have some sort of effect on us, but it is an indirect effect. What we do not want is for it to affect us in a way that we engage in it. Let our thinking be mature.
The seasons have changed once again; this time the warm days of summer have given way to the cooler temperatures of autumn. Along with the change in temperature comes the changing of the leaves depending on which part of the country you live. It is also harvest time for the professional farmers, home garden enthusiasts, and the novice like me. A sure thing even a novice knows is the law of sowing and reaping, what you plant in the spring is what you get in the fall. If you plant peppers, you will get peppers, if you plant tomatoes, you will get tomatoes. Guaranteed, what goes into the ground will come up at harvest time.
Our lives are much like the seasons of the year that are consistently changing. You have heard of such expressions as, ‘this is but for a season’ and ‘seasons of change.’ We have all experienced the dark, cold days of winter only to have it birth anew into the warmth of spring. The heat of the summer sun brings joy, and the fall seasons reveal God’s rich blessings upon us. In each season of our lives, if we look closely, we will see God’s faithfulness in bringing us through each one. As He is faithful in the changing of the earth’s seasons, He is faithful and with us as we go through seasons of change.
Referring back to the law of sowing and reaping, sometimes our lives reach a dark and unpleasant season due to what we planted a season ago. What is being harvested today is bitterness, hatred, jealousy, selfishness, financial difficulties, broken relationships, addictions, and all the consequences of planting ill fruit. The apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:7, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” (nlt)
An advantage to the seasons changing is they always come around again. If you did not have a bumper crop this year or you miss-planted a section of your garden, there is always next year. And whatever season you are in spiritually it is not too late to start planting good seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and all those that will yield a spiritual bounty. It’s harvest time.
