Galatians 6 (6)

Pray Psalm 19.7-11.
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.

Sing Psalm 19.7-11.
(St Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure;
the simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts;
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.

The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet;
be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete.

Read Galatians 6.1-18; meditate on verses 11-18.

Preparation
1. In what should we as Christians boast?

2. What have we become in Jesus Christ?

Meditation
Wait. There’s a rule?

Hold on, we’ll get to that. Paul signed off on the epistle to the Galatians in his “own hand!” (v. 11) He typically used an amanuensis as he dictated. Paul seemed to think better and to be more in touch with the Spirit when he was talking. He summed up his purpose in verses 12 and 13: Do not heed the circumcizers, even if it means being persecuted. Instead, he continued, cling to Jesus. Like Paul himself did (v. 14). Only Jesus can accomplish the “new creation” we need if we are to be free from sin and liberated into the Kingdom of God (v. 15). All this said, Paul was done with the matter (v. 17)

And this brings us to the rule (v. 16). We might call it the Rule of the Kingdom.

As followers of Jesus Christ we are new creatures, and we are called to live under a new rule, one which guides us in sowing to the Spirit and not to the flesh. We must learn to recognize temptation and resist it, so that we grow through temptation unto further righteousness in the Lord, rather than fall through it unto sin. Under this rule we put no confidence in the flesh, nor boast in anything other than the Lord Jesus. We rule our soul and body from within, by the Word and Spirit of God, unto God and His glory. Following this rule must be our daily concern, and at every moment, lest the benefits of our salvation and the joy of the Lord slip through our fingers. And we must help and encourage one another so to live as well, just as Paul did, seeking more of the grace of the Lord that we might live by the rule of His Kingdom (v. 18).

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6.14).

Do we have the courage of Paul to say this to God?
Forbid me?
Don’t let me stray from Your rule and Your law?
Has the world been crucified to me?
And have I been crucified to the world?
Am I a new creation?
Don’t let me wander from Your grace and goodness?
Yes, let this be true of me.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1.18).
“I have been crucified with Christ;
it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by faith in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2.20).
“Deal bountifully with Your servant,
that I may live and keep Your Word” (Ps. 119.17).
Yes, that I may live Your Word and keep Your Word.
And understand that all this is a gift of Your grace and mercy.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2.8, 9).

To put it in today’s vernacular, such boasting would be stolen valor, or personal plagiarism. We would be stealing the glory for something we clearly have not done or written or been. A lie to beat all lies. A person cannot save themselves from their sins. That is oxymoronic. If we sin, we are not powerful enough not to sin. How can we then save ourselves from our own sins, which we cannot stop doing? It is just silly to even contemplate.

Yet masses of people think they have done just that. Saved themselves—by good works, or by circumcision, or by going to church, or throwing money at different causes, or whatever anyone thinks just might be the ticket to accomplish the impossible. Or on the other hand, they think that they, and only they, have done something so terrible that Jesus is not able to cover their sin for salvation. Either way, there are massive egos involved. One is too good and the other too bad. But neither understands grace. God forbid.

May we always live in a way that properly boasts only of the cross of the majestic Jesus Who died to save us.
Only He could do that as the perfect Son of God. Only He could accomplish the impossible. Only Jesus.
Boast in Him. Love Him. Live for Him. Keep His rule. Follow Him daily in His Word.

All for Jesus! All for Jesus! All my being’s ransomed pow’rs;
All my thoughts and words and doings, All my days and all my hours.

Let my hands perform His bidding, Let my feet run in His ways;
Let my eyes see Jesus only, Let my lips speak forth His praise.

Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus, I’ve lost sight of all beside;
So enchained my spirit’s vision, Looking at the Crucified.

O, what wonder! How amazing! Jesus, glorious King of kings,
Deigns to call me His beloved, Lets me rest beneath His wings.
(Mary D. James, 1889)

Reflection
1. What does the idea of a “rule” suggest to you?

2. What specific “rule” did Paul mention? Is that your rule?

3. If we don’t live by this rule, which rule will govern our lives?

Good works are to be done not because they are merits but because they are fruits and evidences of righteousness. This is the apostolic canon, this is the gospel rule that the Holy Spirit has passed down from the beginning of the world, through the patriarchs and prophets, and instituted an order that is not monastic or eremitic but Christian. Johannes Brenz (1499-1570), Explanation of Galatians

Pray Psalm 19.12-14.
Listen quietly in prayer as the Spirit searches your soul. Give thanks for the good work He has done and is doing there. Confess any sins He uncovers and repent of them all. Call on the Lord to make all your thoughts, affections, and values more conformed to the rule of Jesus.

Sing Psalm 19.12-14.
(St Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
Who, LORD, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me!
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be.
O let my thoughts, let all my words, before Your glorious sight
be pleasing to You, gracious LORD, acceptable and right.

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.