Living By or Through the Faithfulness of Christ Jesus - Galatians 2:20

S. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

O. Paul teaches the Galatian believers that our old lives have been crucified with Christ. Our new lives are to be lived no longer controlled by our flesh, but through faith in what Jesus has done for us. Literally, this faith is no that which belongs to us, but it is the faith of Jesus or the faithfulness of Christ Jesus that is extended to me to live by.

A. It is easy to allow ourselves to be led by the flesh and to allow our lives to be turned around or away from the direction God has for us. However, we can choose to be led (by the Holy Spirit) if we will depend upon the faithfulness of Christ Jesus to get us there.

P. Thank you Father for your Word today. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to live this life by or through the faithfulness of Christ Jesus.

Be Vigilant in Prayer - Mark 14:38

S. Mark 14:38 “Watch and pray so t hat you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”

O. Jesus is about to be betrayed, scourged and crucified. He is in agonizing prayer. He asks the disciples to likewise pray. He says to them to “watch” - to be vigilant - to be aware and on the alert rather than give into the temptation of sleeping.

Jesus Himself does not want to give into his flesh. He knows he needs to follow through to obey God’s plan. He needs His disciples to join Him in watchful prayer.

A. When God is calling me to be obedient to His plan for my life, it might not be what my flesh wants. There might be other “fleshly” gratifying things I could do - therefore, I need to be alert, watchful, and on guard while I pray. The Holy Spirit will guide me, but because my flesh is weak, I need to remain in a vigilant state of prayer.

P. Thank you Father for Jesus’ example. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me. Give me spiritual strength over my fleshly weaknesses. In Jesus’ name!

Will Jesus Find You Bearing Fruit ? Mark 11:12-14

S. Mark 11:12-14 “The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said the to the tree, ‘May n one ever eat fruit from you again.’”

O. While it was not typically the season for figs, this tree had full leave and thereby should have had figs. Jesus’ curse on the tree, I think, is more symbolic to the nation of Israel. Israel should have been blessing the world, yet it offered nothing. Jesus’ curse is perhaps the sign of God setting Israel aside (Romans 9-11).

A. As a follower of Christ, I desire to be full of fruit that will benefit others at all times.

P. Thank you Father for this word. There is much here I have not space to write about. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to be found by Jesus bearing fruit for you. In Jesus name!