Daily Walk Through the New Testament

December 21

Read Galatians 3:21-4:20

Faith in Jesus brings us to a place the law was never intended to take us — the place of being sons and daughters of God. Paul said that under the law, people are slaves, but through faith in Jesus, those slaves become sons and daughters. The new identity comes through the process of adoption.
Biological children are a blessing from the Lord, but there is something unique about a child who has been adopted. Often, these children have a spotted past and a questionable future. But in love, someone seeks them out, pays whatever cost is necessary to bring them home, and cares for them in a way they have never experienced. The beauty of the gospel is that God loved us so much He sent His Son to seek us out, rescue us by paying the cost of our sins with His own blood, and bring us home to be reconciled to our Father, where we will enjoy His care in this life and the life to come for eternity. We have also been given a deposit that guarantees our inheritance — the Holy Spirit living in our hearts, who causes us to lovingly cry out in praise, “Abba, Father!” Or in other words, “Daddy!”
To be placed in such a loving family could never come by the acts of the law; it could only come through the faithfulness of Jesus on our behalf. That is why the law must stand to the side and simply applaud when this occurs, because this is what the law was leading us toward.
If you have put your faith in Jesus, give God thanks today that you are no longer a slave to the law. Praise your Father as an adopted child who lives freely in His kingdom!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

December 20

Read Galatians 3:1-20

One of the world’s largest traffic jams occurred in Beijing, China, in the summer of 2010. It was over 60 miles long and lasted for 10 days! There was virtually no way out of it, and some small businesses actually sprung up to sell products to those who were stuck in it.

In effect, this is how Paul illustrated the law in today’s text. After humanity plunged into sin, God made a covenant with Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him. Israel, coming from Abraham, would be that vehicle of God’s blessing to the world. But Israel failed. The law God gave them to point them to faith in Him, became a substitute for that faith. It created a roadblock, a traffic jam, that slowed the redemption story from making its way to all the nations. But the law served a purpose — like a signpost, it pointed to saving faith. It shut off every other alternative to being justified in the sight of God except by faith, the very thing to which it pointed.

Because of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, God opened the roadway wide again. Jesus fulfilled the promise to Abraham and gave those who have faith in Him the ability to live in the Spirit. And living in the Spirit allows us to live in freedom.

Freedom in Jesus is a core truth we need to embrace in our day, but it is possible to put up roadblocks to freedom in our own lives, just like they did in Galatia. Maybe we walk by the flesh instead of walking by the Spirit. Maybe we emphasize what we do for Jesus more than who we are in Jesus. Maybe we forget the gospel means Jesus became a curse for us through His death on the cross. To live freely is to live now like we did when we first believed — by the power of the Spirit. Do you need to remove any roadblocks to freedom in Christ today?

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

December 19

Read Galatians 1:18-2:21

It is possible for any believer, even someone as strong and faithful as Peter was, to fall prey to undercutting the gospel. Paul had to correct his fellow apostle because Peter had fallen back into the pressure of religion and keeping the law. By God’s grace, Peter responded to this correction and returned to living out the true gospel, salvation by faith in Jesus alone — not the law.
We, too, can live by faith in other things, even religious things. Though disciplines like reading the Scriptures, praying, serving, and sharing our story of grace are all godly practices, they alone cannot justify us before God — only Jesus can. We should use every spiritual practice at our disposal, but we must be careful not to trust in those practices as an end in themselves. They are a vehicle that moves us toward our true goal — building our faith in the Faithful One. Keep the growth of your faith relationship with Jesus your goal.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

December 18

Read 2 Corinthians 13:5-Galatians 1:17

Whether Paul was in Corinth or Galatia, he was concerned about people understanding the truth of the gospel. In Galatia, there were some agitators who perverted the true gospel Paul had preached among them, saying that people needed to add the requirements of the law to their faith in Jesus. Paul understood so well that Jesus was the fulfillment of the law and that the pure gospel was about putting faith in Jesus alone, that Paul actually was bold enough to say that anyone who taught otherwise — whether human or angel — should be accursed (Galatians 1:8).
This should sober us. If the Galatians could be confused about the gospel that easily, we modern believers can be too. There is no end to the list of add-ons we use to prop up our faith or to try to justify ourselves in the sight of God. But God is not impressed with us. He is impressed with Jesus. The pure gospel is the message that God welcomes us into relationship with Himself through our faith in Jesus alone — not based upon the works we have done to impress Him.
Are you putting your faith in add-ons or in Christ alone?

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 17
Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-13:4

Though weakness seems to be the antithesis of strength, it is not so in the kingdom of God. God uses the weak things of the world to shame the wise, and He manifests His grace to the world through those weak enough to depend on Him. Looking at it the other way around, it is when we think we are strong that we are our weakest, because true strength only comes through surrendered dependence on Jesus. Today, turn from the temptation to be self-reliant and embrace a life of surrender so His grace may be seen in you.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 16
Read 2 Corinthians 11:5-33

As it was in the time of Paul, so it is in our time — deceitful workers abound. There are those who, in the name of the gospel, use their ministry vocation to build personal empires and maintain exorbitant lifestyles. There are others who so desire fame or a privileged position that they will compromise personal integrity and the integrity of the gospel for that end. As Paul concludes, these are indeed deceitful workers who are energized by Satan himself, and it is important that the people of God use discernment in choosing and following leaders.
In contrast to these deceitful workers, Paul gladly boasted about the transforming power of the love of Jesus and reluctantly boasted about his own role in living it out. His words in 2 Corinthians 11 provide an important reminder: those with a genuine faith and sacrificial love for Jesus will demonstrate them in both their words and their deeds. Paul’s life was a living sacrifice, and he demonstrated his willingness to traverse any height or depth to make known the beautiful gospel of Jesus, regardless of the cost. Are we willing to do the same? The world we live in desperately needs those kinds of Christians. How can you demonstrate your genuine faith and sacrificial love for Jesus?

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 15

Answer the following questions regarding your readings from this past week:

1.) What are some ways you can become more generous and gracious in the             giving of your money and time for the work of Christ?

2.) What can you do today to encourage the pastors in your church who, like Paul             of old, faithfully serve you and preach the Scriptures?

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

December 13
Read 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:15

Ten-year-old Anna understands much about giving to God. She was once saving money to buy a camera, but then one day she and her mom came across a request in the mail for money to purchase Bibles. Anna didn’t like the fact that many people did not have a copy of God’s Word. She asked her parents for more odd jobs around the house so she could earn more money. After saving $40, she told her parents she felt that people needed Bibles more than she needed a new digital camera! When her dad asked her if she was sure she wanted to do this, her response was priceless: “Of course, Dad. Isn’t that what it means to be a Christian?”
According to today’s text, Paul would certainly agree that generosity should characterize all of Christ’s followers. We are most like God when we give our money and our time for the blessing and benefit of others. A stingy Christian is an oxymoron! “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (9:7). It’s not hard to find a need or a worthy cause, so give with joyful generosity today!

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Daily Walk Through the New Testament

December 14
Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-11:4

There were people in Corinth who greatly opposed Paul. They criticized him, calling his physical appearance weak and his speech contemptible (literally, “to despise utterly”). Rest assured that when there are harsh criticisms and verbal attacks within the local church, Satan is behind them.
Paul gave a defense of his ministry to the Corinthian church and then went on to challenge their mind-set and discernment. He was concerned about their shallowness as they focused so much on the outward, about their tendency to be overly critical, and about their susceptibility to false prophets, who came preaching another Jesus and promoting a different spirit and gospel.
If you have a pastor who walks with God, preaches the Scriptures, and loves his family, then do all you can to encourage him — there is no doubt that Satan hates him and has a bullseye on him. The statistics of struggling pastors are alarming: 1500 pastors leave the ministry every month due to moral failure, burnout, or trouble in their churches. 50% of pastors’ marriages do not last, and 80% feel discouraged in their role as pastor.
Refuse to let your pastor become another statistic. Pray for him/her and continually encourage him/her. They need it!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

December 12

Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-8:15

Felix is a man in his eighties who lives a radiant life for Christ. He’s worked hard throughout his life and also endured great hardships. When he and his wife were in their mid-twenties, just 10 days after their first child was born, his wife died from a blood clot. It was a devastating time for Felix, but he continued to trust God and live for Him. God later blessed him with a new wife, and they have been married for 56 years. Looking back at his life, Felix says “God has been very good to me.” He is grateful, generous, and a blessing to those around him.
Similarly, Paul praised the Macedonians because despite a “trial of great affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality” (8:2). Like Felix, the Macedonians knew great hardships, but that didn’t make them bitter or stingy — not with their joy, their money, or their service.
Whatever comes your way, keep choosing to trust God and live for Him. Ask God to help you live in His grace, lead you to love and build others up, give generously, and persevere — even through the hard times.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

December 11

Read 2 Corinthians 6:3-7:7

The story of Adoniram & Ann “Nancy Judson, the first missionaries sent from America, is one of remarkable commitment & sacrifice. They labored in Burma for 6 years before they saw their first convert. After 9 years of service, there was a grand total of only 18 Burmese converts. It seems it would have been easy to get discouraged. But they persisted, and through many dangers, toils, and snares, God used them powerfully to establish a strong Christian witness & presence in Burma.
In 1824, Adoniram was falsely accused of being a spy and placed in a horrible prison. Nancy pled for his release and provided basic necessities for him. While suffering in prison, he wrote these words: “It is possible my life will be spared; if so, with what ardor shall I pursue my work! If not — His will be done. The door will be open for others who will do the work better.”
2 Corinthians is Paul’s most biographical epistle in the New Testament. He shared his heart with the church at Corinth, telling them how God gave him joy in the midst of his trials and used men like Titus to encourage his lagging spirit.
Are you distressed in your service to God? May He send people who will refresh your spirit. In the meantime, be faithful. Be holy. Persevere!