The book of Galatians was Paul’s letter to the Gentile church in the region of Galatia. Paul had been called to minister to those who were non Jews about the salvation of Jesus Christ. Paul’s message was one of freedom through the spirit and salvation by grace through faith. “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God” (Acts 15:19). Paul did not see the need to burden the Gentiles with the religious doctrines of the law including practices such as circumcision. There were some Jewish Christians however, who demanded that the Gentiles needed to earn their place in Christianity.

Some of the Jews demanded that the Gentiles needed to practice circumcision and other Jewish laws in order to be saved. Paul was angry when he learned about the contradictions that was being spread among the churches. Imagine Paul’s frustration when he realised that the churches that he had established were being disturbed by legalistic teachings. “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

Paul knew firsthand what it was like to be bound by religion and legalism. In fact, Paul was the chief prosecutor of the church until he was arrested by God and converted to a disciple of Jesus Christ. As such, Paul was passionate about the freedom which comes from serving Christ. He wanted the Gentiles to experience the freedom of salvation which came from a relationship with Jesus Christ. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

Let us walk in the freedom of God and do not be pressured to adhere to legalism rather than to personal faith in God. Legalism dictates that we excessively adhere to rules and formulas at the expense of a relationship with Jesus Christ. This creates unnecessary burdens and takes away the freedom which comes with serving God. Do not stay in environments that emphasise religion over a relationship with God. Examine if what you are being asked to do lines up with the grace that is preached in the word of God and do not submit yourself to bondage.

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Paul recommended that those of us who are strong and mature in faith are to have patience with those who are weak. I imagine that this also relates to persons who are experiencing difficulties or who are going through a hard time. The reality is that even a strong person has moments of weakness. A strong person under trial can become vulnerable and need the patience of others around them. Grace says that we are willing to overlook a person’s irrational behaviours when we know that they are hurting deeply. Most of us are not at our best when we are wounded and exhausted.

“bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians 3:13). Paul spoke again in his letter to the Colossians about the need to be compassionate, kind, humble, meek and patient. He spoke about the need for us to forgive others and to exercise tolerance. We find it easier to tolerate and accept people who are similar to us. Our impatience is increased towards people who are the exact opposites of our personality types. If someone offends you at a time when you know that they are hurting, are you willing to make allowances?

Empathy requires us to imagine what it would feel like to walk in another person’s shoe. The fact that a thing is not a major issue or concern for you, does not mean that it is not a major difficulty for someone else. Being empathetic means that we ask people to tell us about their experiences and make the time to listen. We don’t have to agree to understand and show compassion. Being argumentative is extremely insensitive when people try to explain how they feel. Being open to listen allows us to enter into another person’s experience. We listen without judgement and demonstrate respect for how people interpret and communicate their experiences.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).

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Some items when purchased are shipped with a ‘handle with care’ label on the box. This is generally to warn anyone handling the parcel that the items inside are items that can be broken easily. The person delivering or receiving the items will be responsible for using a gentle approach when handling the items. There are people who need this kind of careful handling, but unfortunately people don’t come with these labels. How then do we discern those people who we encounter who need careful handling?

Jesus’s instructions to his disciples to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves is quite an oxymoron. The two animals could not be any different in character. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made” (Genesis 3:1). This is the story that most Christians think of when we consider the serpent. There are also many biblical references to the serpent being the Devil himself. The dove has historically been used as a symbol of peace and has been used to represent the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. How then do we balance being as shrewd as serpents, yet gentle and as calm as doves?

The balance comes from having the wisdom of God to discern how to approach and respond to people. James was able to sum this up in one verse. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). James is saying here that we need to be wise in a manner which makes us peaceful, having good reasoning ability, merciful and impartial. A wise person does not need to show off how much they know to others. But they use their gift of wisdom to build others up and to draw people closer to God.

Although people do not come with labels, God instructs us to be wise and loving in our engagements. Nevertheless our main priority should be to do no harm. We commit our relationships to God and listen for his wisdom as to how to proceed. It is useful to commit all of our relationships to Him and ask Him to show us the purpose for our involvement in the lives of people. Our primary objective is to lead people to God through our example. We lead without compromise as our life is a much louder testimony for people than our words.

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).

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Peter was speaking here about the church of Jesus Christ being a select group of people. His reference to peculiarity relates to being different from what is normal or expected. The word can even be interpreted to mean strange. Are you ready to be called strange for doing the things of God? This verse refers to us being chosen by God and being from a royal lineage. The word royal refers to people of royal blood or status such as heads of states and diplomats. We are called a holy nation because we have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ.

We have been set apart to show to the world the excellencies or the wonderful works of Jesus Christ who called us out of darkness into the light of God. Moses spoke to the children of Israel about the blessings of obedience. One of the blessings is that God will make us the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, once we obey his commandments (Deuteronomy 28:13). The amplified version translates this verse to mean that we will be the leaders and not the followers. Being above means to be of significance and not the person that others look down on.

Why does God want us to lead and not follow? For the establishment of the kingdom of God on this earth. If he that is in us is greater than he that is in the world, then why would we be beneath others? This does not mean that we do not submit to authority that is placed over us. What it means is that our aspirations within the marketplace, where we have been placed among those who do not know God, should be to lead. This desire to lead is not for our own self gratification. The main aim is so that we can lead people to God and establish his kingdom.

I pray that you will become the person of influence who God has called you to be. I pray that you will learn to see yourself in the way that God sees you. I pray that you will lead in all areas of the marketplace where God has placed you. I pray that God will ascribe to you the wealth and influence to establish the kingdom of God and lead people to Christ. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).

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Paul has made mention of the Christian journey, being a race which we run to gain a prize. No one stops during a race to celebrate getting through the first half, as they know that they have to complete the full race in order to get the prize. “and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). I believe that it is useful for us to pause to celebrate major accomplishments. There is a need to pause to reflect after overcoming a major hurdle. In so doing, we can note the lessons learnt and understand what helped us to gain the victory. That way we gain valuable insight for the next challenge or difficulty.

Life will continue to present challenges and the aim is for us to develop greater strength and resilience, so that the challenge of today will not be a major issue in the next year. Learning and growing means that we develop greater maturity to navigate seasons of difficulty. Sometimes we experience major difficulties and we seek God and things start to feel better. We have to continue in order for God to complete the work of restoration. We cannot become complacent because we have gained a small territory. Our aim is for complete advancement in order to fulfil our God given assignment.

In Joshua 18, we see Joshua becoming frustrated at the seven tribes of Israel, who had not yet received their inheritance. “And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you” (Joshua 18:3)? The land had already been delegated to them by the Lord. Joshua and Caleb had successfully led the people into victory and driven out the inhabitants. Why then did the people wait before claiming the land? Complacency would have been the reason for their delay.

The things that we need to accomplish here on earth are not solely based on our desire to meet our own needs. God wants to bless us so that we can be a blessing to others. God wants us to have more than enough to give. He wants us to have enough to lend and not borrow. He wants us to lay hold of the blessings in his covenant to Abraham as the creation waits with eager anticipation for the manifested sons of God. “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing” (Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬).

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We serve an omnipotent God who is all powerful. God was in the beginning before time began and he spoke the world into existence. God is the creator of everything and he breathed his life into mankind. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). God created the heavens and the earth and everything that exists comes from God. God spoke and it was so and his words gave life to dead things.

“It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in” (Isaiah 40:22). God is all knowing and he is omnipresent, which means that he is present everywhere at all times. We cannot run or hide from God and there is nothing that we do that God does not see. God is our ever present help in times of trouble and his hands are not too short to save us.

God is loving, faithful and kind and he longs to meet our needs. He sent his only son into the world to die for our sins in order that we can be saved through him. He is a good father who takes care of his children and he keeps his covenant of mercy to us. God will never leave us or forsake us and there is nothing that can separate us from his love. “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Psalm 139:7-8).

God created us in his image and likeness to be in relationship with him. We are nothing without a relationship with God and it is through him that we find our purpose and existence. We are safe when we are close to God so that he can keep us in the shelter of his arms. As we learn more about God and his character, we are able to emulate who God is.

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:3-4).

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David wrote Psalm 3 after he fled from his son Absalom who plotted to take his life. Absalom rebelled against David and managed to turn many of the people in Israel against him. His plan was to kill his father and overthrow him as King. David had to run away from his Palace in order to escape from Absalom. In the end David and his men outwitted Absalom and he was overpowered and defeated. David mourned for his son as he did not wish for any harm to come to him. Despite David’s grief, he recalled how the Lord kept him safe. His song was one of deliverance and salvation from his enemies (2 Samuel 15-18).

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head” (Psalm 3:3). David sang of God’s faithfulness in answering him when he cried out to him for help. He often sang about gaining courage from his faith in God who always rescued him from his enemies. David always had a song about God’s goodness and faithfulness. He spent time in the presence of the Lord and came away refreshed and strengthened.

There is a peace that only comes from being in the presence of God. When we surrender our worries and cares to him, we are able to rest in the assurance that he has everything in control. God surrounds us with his love and faithfulness and daily loads us with benefits. Even when things seem unstable and uncertain, we are at peace when we know that we are in the will of God. Like David, our hunger should be for the things of God. “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God” (Psalm 42:1-2)?

Burdens are lifted when we stay in his presence. Yokes are destroyed and there is healing when we stay close to God. There are answers that can only be found in the presence of God. When we seek the Lord, he will answer and he will surround us with his presence. Everything that we need can be found in God.

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James dedicated a chapter in his book to a teaching on taming the tongue. He makes reference to a horse who is led by a bit which is used by a rider to steer their body. He makes similar reference to a large ship, which is steered by a small rudder. The tongue is a small member of the body, yet it is a powerful member. James compares the tongue to a small flame which can set an entire forest ablaze. He mentioned the tongue being able to control our entire bodies and at times being set on fire from hell. What a person says out of their mouth can determine the outcome of their life and affect their purpose and destiny.

James said that every kind of beast of the field can be tamed by men. “but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). With our tongues we praise and bless the Lord and with the same tongue, we curse people who are made in the image and likeness of God. “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:10). What if we spent more time praying about the things that we don’t like about people? And make sure that you do not discount your prayers by speaking condemnation while you praying.

We have to challenge ourselves to speak life and confess what we would like to see manifested in people. It does not mean that we are lying, being in denial or refusing to be honest. We are speaking into existence what we want to see manifested. “as it is written, “who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Romans 4:17). We have to be consistent as we cannot speak faith one day and speak doubt the next day. Persistent faith requires that we speak light into the darkness and speak life in the face or adversity.

Remember that there is a spirit world that exist around our words. The Devil will use our negative words against us and cause to manifest what we speak out of frustration. The angels also wait to carry out our words spoken from the word of God. If you don’t want it to manifest, then don’t speak it.

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Samuel was a covenant child, born to Hannah after the Lord answered her request and opened her womb. “And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head”” (1 Samuel 1:11). God remembered Hannah and she gave birth to Samuel and she kept her promise to the Lord. “Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there” (1 Samuel 1:28).

Samuel grew up in the house of the Lord and served with Eli the Priest. Because of Hannah’s sacrifice, God blessed her with five more children. The Lord called Samuel and although the word of the Lord was not frequent in those days, God spoke to him. “And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord” (1 Samuel 3:20).

Throughout Samuel’s life he served as the Priest of Israel who would anoint kings and convey to them the words of the Lord. Samuel anointed Saul as King and also told him when God later rejected him. Samuel also anointed David once God told him that he had chosen someone other than Saul to lead his people. Samuel’s prophecies were accurate concerning matters of government and battles that Israel engaged in with their enemies. The trademark of Samuel’s ministry was that God honoured whatever he said. Every word spoken out of the mouth of Samuel was fulfilled just as he had spoken.

God established Samuel’s words because he was called and anointed as a prophet. Samuel also spoke the will of God and ensured that his words were in alignment with the purpose of God. Our words are powerful and we will also decree a thing and it shall be established unto us (Job 22:28). Let us weigh our words carefully and be intentional when we speak. Our words are active and powerful and our tongue has the power of life and death.

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God prescribed rest for his people. He laboured six days and on the seventh day he rested. I don’t believe that God was tired, but he rested as an example for us. If God in his sovereignty took time to rest, why would we work seven days a week? We cannot work hard enough to impress God. I smile when I think of Jesus asleep in a boat during a storm (Mark 4:38). This suggests that not even a storm could come between Jesus and his rest. We cannot allow the cares of this life to cause us to lose sleep.

I know that some of us have hectic schedules and jobs that are extremely demanding. Some seasons are full of storms and one trial after the other. How do we find rest when we have so many challenges? God does not want us to carry the burdens alone. When we lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus, he gives us rest and peace. The job that is onerous and burdensome can become easy when we trust it to God. “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act”(Psalm 37:5).

If we are honest with ourselves, sometimes busyness is a strategy to distract us from problems that we do not want to confront. Other times we enjoy being busy because it gives us a sense of fulfilment and purpose. All of the above scenarios suggest that there are situations that we need to completely surrender to the Lord. A life fully surrendered to God leads to rest. There are other times when we are exhausted because we are fighting battles that belong to God.

We enjoy feelings of self sufficiency and we like feeling like we are in control of our lives. A sense of direction is important and we need decisiveness and a sense of purpose. There are times however, when we cannot control neither the course of some situations nor the outcome. Our only resolve is to trust it to God and rest.

“casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

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