Meditations in Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians OCTOBER 1 Scripture: Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle, not of men, nei ther by man.”
lone Lowman, Ph.D. he has received from God, and what measure of the fullness of God dwells in any of us is in proportion to our appropriation of Jesus Christ. Since “in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing,” let my boasting be of Jesus Christ my King, in whom reside all purity, goodness, and righteous ness. OCTOBER 8 Scripture: Ephesians 1:2-5 “Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Let Dr. F. B. Meyer speak to our hearts here. “We need i>oth grace and peace—grace to help in our times of need; peace to keep our hearts and minds. The one is as the blue vault of Heaven above us, the other as the blue depth of the ocean, tranquil and calm. . . . Open your heart to the Spirit of adoption, that He may flutter, dove- like, into its depths and bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God, and if a child then a partici pator in His grace and peace.” OCTOBER 9 Scripture: Ephesians 1:7 “ In whom we have r e d e m p t i o n through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” How precious are the present tenses of the Word! In these there are many wonderful vistas of promise picturing hope for the future and blessed facts covering the past. In gracious love God makes known our present pos sessions as a rock of assurance and a basis for steadfastness. Among these present possessions are “ redemption” and “forgiveness." The verb in the Scripture for today is “have,” not “did have," or “will have,” though both are true. Search the Word and rejoice as the Spirit reveals what is now your portion in the Lord. OCTOBER 10 Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10 “For we a r e his workmanship, created in Christ J e s u s unto good works." Dr. Arno C. Gaebelein translates this verse: “Ye are God’s masterpiece.”
Here, as always, God places the em phasis upon faith. Whether He stress es holy living, restful waiting, or joy ous worship, all is by faith through the blessed Holy Spirit. The Spirit teaches us to walk by faith because He centers our thoughts upon the Lord Jesus; He takes the things of Christ and shows them unto us; He causes our hearts to bow in worship before our Lord, and leads us in obeying His Word. OCTOBER 5 Scripture: Galatians 4:1-7 “Thou art no more a servant, but a son.” No longer slaves, but sons! We are no longer servants of Satan, self, or sin. We are sons—sons of the Most High God. Can a higher position be given to us? Sons have freedom un known to slaves, and with our posi tion comes the liberty of sonship. This liberty carries with it the responsibil ity that it be used to honor the Giver. "O come, let us worship and bow down.” Let us kneel in homage to that divine One and arise with joy, to walk as sons of His. OCTOBER 6 Scripture: Galatians 5:1-7 “ Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” Have we been hindered in our run ning of the Christian race? Let us wait before God that the Spirit may reveal the hindering cause to us. If the revelation hurts, God is able to make His grace sufficient for us to bear the disclosure. The pain of the revealing will be swept away by the relief of the cleansing, and both will be forgotten in the joy of His infill ing. Out testimony will be clarified and His name glorified as we submit to the refining fires and His Spirit’s working, “O Lord, how great are thy works.” OCTOBER 7 Scripture: Galatians 6:3 “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” Dr. William L. Pettingill reminds us that there is no place in the Christian life for conceit. What anyone has,
Paul’s position was not by popular election nor by government appoint ment; he was made an apostle by the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. Neither are we elected by a congre gation or appointed by ecclesiastical authority to our position in Ch r i s t Jesus; we are saints, sons of God, by divine decree, and as such our respon sibility is to God only. Lord Jesus, may I be faithful to Thee, today. OCTOBER 2 Scripture: Galatians 1:10 “Do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, 1 should not be the servant of Christ.” Often the desire for man’s approval operates within our hearts without our awareness. This word from God is a challenge to our consciousness. As we wait before Him and listen to the voice of His Spirit, we shall be able to decide whose approval means the most to us. Let us delight ourselves in God, that He may give us the de sire to please Him in all things. Then He will take care of our relations to others. OCTOBER 3 Scripture: Galatians 2:1-5 ’ “False brethren . . . came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus.” Precious liberty in Christ Jesusi is the possession of every believer. It is being assailed continually by the en emy of our souls who thereby seeks to bring reproach upon the name of the Lord Jesus. Our safety lies in recog nizing that our liberty is in Christ. Never apart from Him is there freedom or safety. In Him is all the Christian needs, and quiet faith in His finished work will cause the heart to sing. OCTOBER 4 Scripture: Galatians 3:1-5 “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit . . . doeth he it by the works of the law, err by the hearing of faith?”
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