We Are Not Alone

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ 

November 20, 2024

We Are Not Alone

Since (Jesus) himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

Hebrews 2:18

I am writing this meditation the day before our national elections. As I reflect on this campaign season, I remember when Justice Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed and took her oath as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in October 2020. The next day two images were commonplace in social media. One image was of young women who were so encouraged and inspired by her appointment to the Supreme Court. The other image was of women who believed Justice Barrett’s appointment signaled the end of the world as they wanted it to be.  It seems more and more we live in a culture that is dominated by either / or  beliefs; either you love me, or you hate me. There seems to be no in-between. Everything seems to be communicated in absolute terms. This thinking in absolute terms has certainly been evident throughout the campaigns. How do we, as those seeking to be fully devoted followers of Jesus, find our way through this culture?

I believe 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 offers us a two-part blessing that can serve as our guide through these difficult times. First, we are provided God’s comfort when we encounter difficulties in life. Secondly, we can then use the comfort we received from God to comfort others. Instead of just trying to endure difficult times, we can experience God’s grace and then share His grace with others. This can inspire us to seek God’s wisdom through times of trial as opposed to staying focused only on our needs. (“Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4 NRSV.))

My Takeaway: And we are not alone to sort all this out! “Since (Jesus) himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.”

I also like a slogan I saw on social media today:

THE RESULTS WON’T DERAIL YOU

WHEN THE RESURRECTION DEFINES YOU.

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The New People of God

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

Galatians 

November 19, 2024

The New People of God

What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.

Galatians 6:15b-16

Read: Galatians 6:11-18

In this closing passage, Paul takes the letter from his scribe, who had been writing the letter as Paul dictated it, and he adds his own postscript. Paul’s passion for his friends in the Galatian churches is clear, and I suspect the churches were encouraged by Paul’s affection for them as they saw Paul’s own handwriting at the end of the letter.

Paul makes one final appeal for his friends not to get caught up in the rule-keeping ways of the Judaizers. For Paul, it doesn’t matter how well we are doing in rule-keeping. “What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation” (Galatians 6:15b). Those who have thus been set apart as the new people of God will carry the scars of faith, not circumcision. Paul’s closing words are very reminiscent of his words in Romans 8 and Philippians 3 where he teaches us that,

“together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering” (Romans 8:17b Emphasis mine) and,

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10 NRSV Emphasis mine).

My Takeaway: Paul carried the scars of the persecution he suffered for the cause of Christ. He also carried scars from his daily affirming in his own life, not his will, but God’s will be done. So it is for all the fully-devoted followers of Jesus seeking the life in Christ as their way of life.

“May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God” (Galatians 6:16).

NOTE: This meditation concludes my series on Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Beginning tomorrow I will have a short series of Daily Meditations, and on December 2, 2024, I will begin my 2024 series of Advent and Christmas meditations.

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Don’t Stop

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

Galatians 

November 18, 2024

Don’t Stop

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9 (NRSV)

Read: Galatians 6:6-10

In today’s passage, I hear Paul affirming one of the greatest attributes of the first century church: patience. Paul believed that by trusting in God, the followers of Jesus should be patient—not trying to control events, not anxious or in a hurry.

As we rest in the assurance that God is at work within us (Philippians 2:13), we can patiently trust that God will form the life of the Beatitudes and the life of love that Paul celebrates in 1 Corinthians 13 within us. Paul calls us to fully embrace a patient lifestyle:

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Philippians 1:6 

Our patience is rooted in God’s character; God is patient and is working relentlessly across time to accomplish his mission. The heart of patience is revealed in Jesus Christ. Jesus’s life and teaching demonstrate what patience means and calls us who follow him to a patient lifestyle that participates in God’s mission.

My Takeaway: Patience is hopeful; it entrusts the future confidently to God. Therefore, we can joyfully embrace Paul’s encouragement: “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NRSV).

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Living as the People of God

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

Galatians 

November 15, 2024

Living as the People of God

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Read: Galatians 6:1-5

God created us to be in community. Sin destroyed our ability to enjoy loving relationships in community. God, in Christ, restored our relationship with Him and thus restored our capacity to be in community.

Living as the new people of God in community is threatened when we are not seeking the life in Christ. When we are focused on the law and rule keeping, the inevitable result is pride, as we compare ourselves with others. It is tempting to feel smug and superior when we think we are doing better than others.

When we are seeking the life in Christ as our way of life, and we encounter a brother or sister making wrong choices, we can “gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path” (6:1). We maintain community.

In verse 3, Paul identifies one of the foundational principles of living in community: “If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.” That may seem like a harsh statement, but remember, Paul would be the first to tell you that God is head-over-heels, passionately in love with you. You are hugely important to God. Because this love of God is eternal, unfailing and fulfills all our needs, we are then free to love the world the way Jesus loved the world: sacrificially.

My Takeaway: God created us to be in community. How do we do this? “Let your bearings towards one another arise out of your life in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5 NEB 1961)

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

 

The Buffet Line of Life

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

Galatians

November 14, 2024

The Buffet Line of Life

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Galatians 5:24-25

Read: Galatians 5: 22-26

I noted in the previous meditation that the Apostle Paul saw things as black and white. You are either in Christ, or you are not. You are either living by grace, or you are living under the law. You are either living by the Spirit, or you are living by the flesh. Paul sees these two ways of living as being completely opposite of each other, like forces constantly fighting each other. In the previous passage, Paul listed some of the characteristics of living in the flesh. Here he helps us understand what it is like for us when we are living the Life in Christ, or living by the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

We all know it is better for us to live by the Spirit instead of the flesh. I am sure if we put that up for a vote it would pass. How can the Spirit-life ascend, and the flesh-life descend in our life? In verse 24, Paul says “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”  How do we do that?

God has already done the heavy lifting for us. Paul is showing us that when we came to God by faith in Christ Jesus, our old life was crucified with Christ, and God has now given us new life in Christ. This old life/new life is a gift of God’s grace. Now that we are alive to God in Christ, we get to choose how we want to live our life. We are finite creatures; that is, we have a limited amount of consciousness. We get to choose with what we will fill our lives.

My Takeaway: Think of Paul’s two lists, the characteristics of the flesh-life (v. 19-21), and the characteristics of the life in Christ (v. 22-23) as items on the buffet line of life. It is an all-you-can-eat buffet, but you can only choose nine items. Which do you choose? Do you see how new life in Christ works? If you consciously choose to fill your life with the qualities of the Christ-life, there is no room left for the flesh-life.

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

When the Flesh is Tugging

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

Galatians 

November 13, 2024

When the Flesh is Tugging

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:14

Read: Galatians 5: 13-21

Jesus Christ has set us free from the power of sin that separated us from God. Our New Covenant relationship with God has been won by, and secured by, Jesus for all eternity. Paul wants us to embrace our freedom, to rejoice in our freedom, and to choose to live each day in our freedom in Christ. In this passage, Paul begins to demonstrate how different our freedom in Christ is from the law. The law provides a list of dos and don’ts; keep the law, and you’ll be in a right-relationship with God. Of course, the problem we know all too well is that no one can faithfully keep the law.

Freedom does not provide a list of dos and don’ts. Freedom provides us with signposts pointing the way toward God, and then we have the freedom to choose which way we want to go.  The more we choose the ways of God, the more we train ourselves in the life of Christ. However, in keeping with the truth Paul has been teaching in this letter, choosing the right path is vitally important.

The apostle Paul was not too big on shades of gray. He saw things as black and white. You are either in Christ, or you are not. You are either living by grace, or you are living under the law. You are either living by the Spirit, or you are living by the flesh.

My Takeaway: Paul’s argument is quite simple. If your lifestyle resembles the characteristics of the flesh life in Galatians 5:19-21, you are making the wrong choices in life. Paul wants us to know we do not have to follow the desires of our sinful flesh. Through the power of Christ, we can choose to follow Christ in the ways of God. When we feel the tug of our flesh, let us always recall Paul’s words in Romans 7:24-25: “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

P.S. Also, hold on to the promise of Romans 8:1-2.

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

It Matters a Great Deal

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

Galatians

November 12, 2024

It Matters a Great Deal

You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?

Galatians 5:7

Read: Galatians 5: 7-12

The Apostle Paul was a master of mixed metaphors, as he so well demonstrated in this passage. He moved seamlessly from running a race, to cooking, to a courtroom setting, to a personal reference, and then closed with a reference to castration. Whew! The depth of Paul’s passion for Christ and for the church of Jesus Christ is clear. There are times in Paul’s writings when he exhausts a thesaurus as he proclaims the marvelous grace of God. There are times, like this passage, when it seems like his passion overwhelms his ability to clearly communicate. In today’s passage, Paul is clearly very angry.

It was in the writings of Fred Craddock that I read, “in a country where everyone is a Christian, no one is a Christian.” The truth observed in that statement is that it is possible to water down the Christian faith to a point where nothing really matters, and anything goes. Paul was so angry, so passionate, because he believed it matters a great deal what we believe about Jesus. Paul told the Romans that just because God’s grace is so marvelous, we do not have a license to sin with impunity. (See Romans 6) Here, he is telling the Galatians that the grace of God launched a New Covenant relationship with humankind, and that it is grossly offensive to the price God paid to set us free to require people to take a step backwards into the Old Covenant before moving forward with God into the New Covenant.

My Takeaway: The Christian experience of most Americans is pretty tame. Many go along to get along. As you are reading about Paul’s passion to keep his friends in the Galatian churches on the right path with God, is there anything in your journey with Christ that invokes such passion? Should there be?

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.