galatians 2:20 | Thoughts About God

What the Lord Values

Devotionals — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 09:01:03 +0000

“…the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

I have been reading a set of books in my devotions by Charles J. Rolls, in which the author writes, in great detail, about the attributes of God. He writes about names and characteristics of God which I had not considered before. One of these names is: God, the Valuer.

Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of what God values. He values what we give to Him. One example is in a passage is in Leviticus 27. Here the Lord commands priests to place an estimate on the value of all things that were donated to God by the people of Israel. In Leviticus, the expression, “thy estimation” is used twenty times. God places a value on the things we give to Him. Christ wields the prerogative of estimating the value of all gifts and services that are rendered in His name – gold, silver or stubble.

Take the story of Peter – after he had been fishing all night and caught nothing, Jesus asked for the use of his boat to teach the crowds. Then He told Peter to launch into the deep and let down his nets. Even though Peter was reluctant because they had fished in vain all night and were tired, he did it anyway and God rewarded him for the use of his boat, by giving him two boatloads of fish. Christ is no man’s debtor.

There is also the story of Mary who poured the expensive, perfumed oil on Jesus feet. Jesus valued her precious act of worship and told the cynical disciples that this woman’s act of kindness and adoration would be remembered wherever the gospel was preached. He valued her sacrifice of love.

Christ never undervalues a kind word spoken, or underestimates a loving deed done in His name.

He noticed the widow who gave two mites. He understands what giving costs.
He also takes notice of neglect in giving thanks to Him for benefits received, as in the case of the ten lepers who were healed and only one came back to give thanks. Jesus asked where the others were.

Charles Rolls states so clearly, “He weighs the burden of a sigh, he measures the pain of our heartaches, he senses the sorrow of severance from our loved ones, he perceives the motive of a desire, and discerns the aim of an aspiration. He fully knows, sincerely loves and gently cares for each one of us, His people.”

The value that Christ puts on our life never changes. He paid the ultimate price for us. He loved us so much that He paid the price (an unbelievable cruel death) to redeem us from the grip of sin and death.

As in Ephesians 1:18, He considers us “His own precious treasure.” God is the Valuer and places the highest value on who we are, what we do for Him, the time we spend for Him and what we give up for Him. God, the Valuer.

Do you know He values you?

God, we recognize that You place a value on what we do or don’t do for You, but we also realize and are so grateful that You value us so much that You paid the ultimate price for us by dying for us. Thank You! Please give us wisdom and courage to value the things that You value. Amen.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

Christ in You Gives You Confidence

Thoughts_About_God — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 08:01:48 +0000

“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.” Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

When Jesus commands us to do something, he knows we can’t do it unless we’re empowered by him. So, through the Holy Spirit, he joins his life with ours; thus, “Christ lives in me.”

This new life takes us where we could never go ourselves. God transforms us by the life of Christ within us, and so we “live and move and have our being” energized by being in Christ Acts 17:28 (NIV).

No matter how hard we try, some days sheer willpower isn’t enough to move us closer to where God wants us to be. And so we try harder, and things just get worse.

This is God driving us away from “try harder” Christianity. It is God teaching us, “Not I, but Christ.”

We begin to see it is no longer “just I” doing the work. We learn to say in faith: “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” Galatians 2:20 (NIV).

Our confidence is not in our ability but in God’s ability. Discuss ways that God works through us internally and externally to build our faith in him.

How would things change in your life if you traded self-confidence for God confidence?

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

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Christ In You

Devotionals — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 09:58:56 +0000

Paul said, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). The apostle sensed within himself not just the philosophy, ideals, or influence of Christ but the person of Jesus. Christ moved in. He still does. When grace happens, Christ enters. “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

For many years I missed this truth. I believed all the other prepositions: Christ for me, with me, ahead of me. And I knew I was working beside Christ, under Christ, with Christ. But I never imagined that Christ was in me.

I can’t blame my deficiency on Scripture. Paul refers to this union 216 times. John mentions it 26 times. They describe a Christ who not only woos us to himself but “ones” us to himself. “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15, emphasis mine).

No other religion or philosophy makes such a claim. No other movement implies the living presence of its founder in his followers. Muhammad does not indwell Muslims. Buddha does not inhabit Buddhists. Hugh Hefner does not inhabit the pleasure-seeking hedonist. Influence? Instruct? Entice? Yes. But occupy? No.

Yet Christians embrace this inscrutable promise. “The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you” (Colossians 1:27 MSG). The Christian is a person in whom Christ is happening.

We are Jesus Christ’s; we belong to him. He moves in and commandeers our hands and feet, requisitions our minds and tongues. We sense his rearranging: debris into the divine, pig’s ear into silk purse. He repurposes bad decisions and squalid choices. Little by little a new image emerges. “He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son” (Romans 8:29 MSG).

By Max Lucado
Used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://maxlucado.com/about/

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