Judge

"Arise, O God, judge the earth!" Psalm 82:8.

Yes, Lord, we look to you for justice toward the weak, for the fatherless. We hope in you to establish the rights of the poor and of those who suffer. We call on you to defend defenseless people against the powerful wicked. Human heroes don't last long enough. They die. But you, O God, you judged, you reached into Jesus's grave and brought him back  to life!

We visit with a brother or sister today mutually comforted by God's justice. And, together, we give thanks to him who raised Christ and his justified people to his right hand for ever. Thank You!

In

"He blessed us in Christ," Ephesians 1:3.

God blessed. Us. In Christ. God chose us ... in him. God blessed us ... in the Beloved. We have redemption ... in him. We have forgiveness ... in him. God lavishes the riches of grace ... in him. God set his purpose out ... in Christ. God unites all things, sky and earth ... in him. We obtained inheritance ... in him. We hoped ... in him. We were sealed ... in him.

We fellowship with a brother or sister today, in Christ. And, together, in Him, we praise God's brilliance.

Predestined

"He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ," Ephesians 1:5.

Who predestined? God. Whom did he predestine? Us. To what end did God predestine? For adoption. Through whom did God so predestine? Through Jesus Christ. And who is Jesus? God's son. So. God had already chosen beforehand that he would adopt humans through his son, Jesus. Quick: Does this say that God has already predestined who goes to heaven or who to hell? No. Not about us. About God and Jesus. It says that God predestined Jesus as the means through whom whoever does go to heaven goes. (Because they got adopted by God through his son.) God's will has a purpose: Through his beloved son, to lavish humans with grace.

When we meet up with a brother or sister today, we recognize deep kinship through God's grace. And, together, we offer grateful praise for his shining generosity.

In

"He chose us in him before the foundation of the world," Ephesians 1:4.

Who chose? God did. Whom did God choose? Us. In whom did God choose? In him. (Who Him? Christ.) When did God choose? Before the earth started. To what end did God choose? To bless. That in Christ people would become indeed saints, holy and blameless. What moved God to choose us so? Love. So. Does this say that God chose specific people to go to heaven, and chose the rest to hell? No. It says that in his love God planned from for ever ago that the chosen people would be those persons faithful to his beloved son, faithful to his Christ, faithful to Jesus.

We meet with a brother or sister today chosen through the faith of Christ. And, together, we praise God who blessed us, who are in Christ, with everything worthy of being a blessing.

Blessed

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," Ephesians 1:3.

Why should God be blessed? Mainly: Because he's God. The One and the Only. Then: Because he's the giver of grace and peace. Because he's the father of Jesus. Father of Jesus, the Christ, our Lord. Because, also, he's our father. And, too: Because he blessed us. Because he has blessed us with every blessing, every spirit blessing that exists in the sky places. All in Christ. Anybody in Christ received all blessings. So. That's why we bless God.

We meet with a brother or sister today and bless God, our father who gave us everything in his son, Jesus. And, together, we give thanks giving him praise.

Canon

"Peace and mercy be upon them," Galatians 6:16.

Upon whom? Upon those who follow the rule. Who follow the canon. (No, not cannon.). Who follow the standard. So what rule do the people follow who get the blessing of peace and mercy? This rule: Boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. (And in nothing else.) These are the Israel of God. These are the recipients of the promises God gave to Abraham (& Sarah) and to their one descendant. God's new creation is the multiplied peoples who've become the one singular offspring in Christ. These people dressed themselves with Christ being baptized into him. And, in Christ, they became Abraham's promised heirs.

When we meet up with a brother or sister today, we extend to each other God's peace and mercy. And, together, we give thanks to God for making us his children through Jesus's sacrifice.

Slipped

"My steps had nearly slipped," Psalm 73:2.

From what? From believing that God is good. I had almost stumbled over this. Why? because I was envious of the arrogant. Of the bullies that always got ahead. Of the prosperity of the bad guys. But then I went into God's presence and worshiped him. Then I understood. I had been senseless and stupid like a dumb animal. God's bringing the wicked to justice, into ruin. But God's holding his people in his right hand. O God: Thank you for guiding with your counsel! We've no one in heaven than you! There's no one we desire on earth than you! You are our strength, our heart, our portion for ever!

Visiting with a brother or sister today we become wise in the faith of our God. And, together, we give thanks for Jesus who entrusted himself to the Just Judge.

Limits

"Through Jesus my world is crucified, and I to it," Galatians 6:14.

Oh, Yes! If there's anything we'd boast about, if there's anything at all, it'd be to boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not our limited stuff (cool as it might be). Not our limited skills (proficient as they may be). Not our limited learning (as insightful as it may be). Not our limited finances (as rich as it may be). Not our limited culture (as identifying as it may be).  Not our limited national heritage (as assertive as it may be). No. All those are crucified to us, and we to them. We boast, rather, in God's new creation. Wrought by his cross.

We recognize a brother or sister today by His new creation common to our lives. And, together, we give infinite thanks to him who released us from the world's limits to life in eternity.

Loss

"They wouldn't be persecuted for the cross of Christ," Galatians 6:12.

Who? Who wouldn't be? What coward wouldn't be persecuted for the cross of Christ? These: Whoever wants to look good, to make a good showing. Yeah. Whoever would advocate for circumcision to impress their peers. (Not that they'd actually follow the Law, but just so that they'd stay out of trouble with their fellows.) Yep. They'd rather brag about a little cut-off skin. But not about the cross where Jesus put his whole body into the game.

We join with a brother or sister today risking the cost of the cross of Christ. And, together, we give thanks for being counted worthy to suffer loss with Jesus.

Yielded

"Whatever one sows, that will he also reap," Galatians 6:7.

Plant corn, get corn. Ya get what ya sow. What goes around comes around. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. Karma. You made your bed, now sleep in it. You get what you deserve. Do the crime, do the time. Make your choice, live the consequence. Ya get whatcha pay for. Call the tune, pay the piper. Reap what you plant. Sow to the flesh, reap rot. Sow to the Spirit, reap eternal life. Do good. Don't give up doing good. And so, reap the harvest of good doing.

Visiting with a brother or sister today, we speak of Christ, the seed who fell into the earth and died. And, together, we thank him who yielded much fruit rising from the dead.

Rule

"Each will bear his own load," Galatians 6:5.

Wait a minute! Didn't it just get through saying: Bear one another's burdens? So, which is it? Are we supposed to bear our own loads, or, to bear each other's burdens? Well, we're on a journey, right? And we each of us carry our own backpacks, right? But sometimes, sometimes, we twist an ankle and stagger under the load, right? So. It's right that we usually carry our own gear. But, it's also right that we help each other out, all fellow strugglers. And we don't make like we're really hot stuff when we lend a hand. We just follow Jesus's lead, humbly. That's his rule.

We share burdens with a brother or sister today in the love of Christ. And, together, we give heart-ful thanks to God that Jesus bore our iniquities.

Law

"Fulfill the law of Christ," Galatians 6:2.

How interesting! The Good Book said that if a person binds themselves to follow the Law, they're nullified from Christ, under a curse! And, that Christ has brought freedom from all that! But, here and now, it tells us to fulfill the law of Christ! What gives? Here's what: People who believe in Christ in order to get right with God receive God's promised Spirit; people who try to get God's favor by meticulous observance of Moses's Law, don't. So, empowered by the Spirit, we set aside arrogance. We bear the fruit of the Spirit. Bear one another's burdens. In this manner we fulfill Christ's imperative: Love one another as I have loved you. Spirit-walk.

We help out a brother or sister today fulfilling Jesus's way of life. And, together, we give thanks for God's love richly poured out into hearts through his Spirit.

Face

"God have mercy on us and bless us," Psalm 67:1.

Yes, Dear Lord, your face shines on us! It shows people throughout the world your ways. It tells of your power, your saving power! We call on all peoples to praise you, O God! Everybody: Praise God! Glad nations sing your joyful songs. You judge all fairly. You guide earth's nations. You make the earth yield more and more. You bless us, Dear God. And you will continue to bless! We call on all peoples around the globe to fear you!

We see a brother or sister today and we encourage each other with God's faithfulness. And, together, we give thanks out loud to our shining Lord.

Path

"Walk by the Spirit," Galatians 5:16.

We find freedom to live by following the Spirit. Walking the Spirit's path leads to life, away from the deceit of weak and broken human ways. Some of those old, rotting paths are: impure deeds, giving in to dark desires, sorcery and drugs, fighting, jealousy, hostile outbursts, making trouble, taking sides against each other, wanting each other's stuff, getting drunk, joining wild parties. These paths all fail. But. The Spirit's path thrives with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithful hearts, gentle ways, self control; nobody's against these, everybody knows and wants these for life.

We meet a brother or sister today in the Spirit's path to life. And, together, we give thanks to God for showing us a way to live life worth living into eternity.

Toward

"You were called to freedom," Galatians 5:13.

Freedom! Christ has set us free! Liberty from captivity! Never again will we submit to a yoke of slavery! Free! Free at last! Praise God Almighty! We are free at last! Yes! Called to freedom! ... away from what? Freedom from the ruthless demands of Law. Free from the Law's curse. Called to freedom! ... toward what? To serve other folks. Free to serve through love. Free to love the neighbor as we love ourselves. Not free to fleshly passion, not free to consume, and be consumed by, others. Free, yes!, free to walk by God's Spirit.

When we meet up with a brother or sister today, we enjoy the freedom of God's children. And, together, we praise God for Jesus's call on our lives to liberty's work.

Scandal

"The offense of the cross has been removed," Galatians 5:11.

Hmm. Well. That sounds like a good thing ... at first blush, anyway. The cross (of Jesus) faces off against something. It affronts some sensibility or another. It's a scandal. To what? To this: to the teaching that keeping the whole Law makes a person righteous in God's eyes. Now, if the gospel message would say just to keep the Law, then there'd be no problem with people who want to keep the Law. It'd be the same message, right? The offense against Law keeping would be gone! But! Truth: The message of Jesus's cross, received by human faith through God's grace, faces off directly against the notion of Law keeping to get right with God. So. The offense remains. And God's generous forgiveness carries the day.

We visit with a brother or sister today joyful that Jesus's sacrifice atones wholly for our sins. And, forgiven together, we praise God for the offense of the cross.

Capacity

"Faith working through love," Galatians 5:6.

That's what counts. That's what prevails. That's what empowers. That's what does the job. (What job? standing in grace.) Want to live in God's grace? If Yes (!), then don't worry about circumcision or uncircumcision. Don't worry about religious holidays or special days or fasting or feasting. Neither observing these things, nor avoiding them (!), has the capacity to bear God's generosity. So. What does have that ability? Faith. Trusting in Jesus' faith. Faith at work in love. That's what powers grace to flood the soul.

We recognize a brother or sister today as fellows in the faith of Christ. And, together, thankfully, we serve each other faithfully in his love.

Meticulously

"You have fallen away from grace," Galatians 5:4.

Yeah? Well? So what's the big deal about that? This - the human states of being are two: One, by faith, being borne by God's overwhelming generosity into a stunningly eternally good life (grace); or, Two, by disobedience, being consumed by God's rage against oppositional defiant human atrocities into crispy critters (damnation). Wow! So how does a person fall from grace? Here's how: By seeking self-righteousness before God in following Law meticulously. You know, doing circumcision and every other detail of the Law religiously. For such persons, Christ has nothing to offer.

When we see a brother or sister today, we dwell in Jesus' grace-filled work that makes us children of God's promise. And, together, we give him thanks for his overly generous mercies.

Fealty

"Hear my cry, O God!" Psalm 61:1.

Lord God, you do listen to our prayers. (Thank you!) We call out to you from earth's everywhere. You hear us. (Praise you!) Fears assail us. From high above you protect us, from the tallest vantage points you watch over us against evil power. You guard us like hens' wings cover their young. You hear our promises. Your loyal bond secures our need. You've given Christ eternal life and rule in your very presence. You encompass our Savior with your love and truth. So we praise your name for always. And we pledge eternal fealty to you.

We meet a brother or sister today to thank God for hearing our call. And, together, we praise his name into eternity.