Digging Deeper: Galatians 6:11-18
Day 1: Boasting In The Cross
What we boast about, reveals what our faith is in.
There are all kinds of things we could boast about. People boast about their success, accolades, eduction, accomplishments, status, and ability. I mean think about the questions we ask people when we fist meet them.
What’s your name? Where do you live? What do you do for a living? Like someone we can really know who a person is or what they are about just by knowing those three things.
Paul reminds us that the only things worth boasting in is the cross of Jesus.
Galatians 6:14 (ESV): "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
The word “boast” means more than to brag. It means to glory, to rejoice, to be consumed by, to be mastered by, to be obsessed with.
The cross is the ultimate symbol of our salvation, and it is through Christ's sacrifice that we can become fully loved, fully accepted, fully forgiven, and fully adopted children of God.
The cross changes our past, our life today, and our future (eternity). It is worth your boasting.
Reflection:
What are some things you find yourself boasting about in your daily life? How can you shift your focus to boast in the cross of Christ instead?
Following the example of Paul, what do you think it looks like to boast in the cross of Christ today?
Prayer: Ask God to reveal any areas in your life where you are placing your faith in your own works, moralism, or adherence to rules rather than in Christ alone. Pray for the grace to shift your focus entirely to the cross of Christ.
Day 2: The Cross Confront Our Sin.
I once had a mentor tell me that one of the biggest responsibilities of leaders in the local church is to make sure that the, “main things remain the main things”. Over the years I have found this to be both true and reliable.
Let’s be honest, it is really easy to get sidetracked. I once had someone tell me they were considering the church they went to because they were part of a team that was looking into which company to use for the church’s garbage service. The service they presented did not get chosen, and for that person, that was a bid deal. Big enough to leave the church family he had been a part of for years. While getting the garage picked up is good, it should not be the main thing.
This is what has started to happen in the church in Galatia. They lost sight of the main thing, the saving death and resurrection of Jesus. Essentially a group of false teachers showed up and wanted to remove the Cross of Christ from the good news of the Gospel.
By the way, there is no such thing as, “cross-less christianity”.
The cross is a stark reminder of our sin and our need for a Savior. All throughout the New Testament, we see time and time again that we are dead in our sins, slaves to sin, and are completely unable to do anything about it.
The cross declares our need for a Savior and proclaims that Jesus is that Savior. It is through His sacrifice that we are forgiven and set free. The cross confronts us with the reality of our sinfulness and the depth of God's love for us. It is a call to repentance and a reminder of the grace that is available to us through Jesus Christ, alone.
Romans 5:8 (ESV): "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Reflection:
Read Ephesians 2:1-3, What does this scripture say about our condition before knowing Christ?
How do you think the Cross of Christ confronts our sinfulness?
Prayer: Pray for a heart of true repentance, acknowledging your sins before God and seeking His forgiveness. Ask for the strength to turn away from sin and live a life that honors Him.
Day 3: Satisfied and Secure.
When one of my boys was really young, like two or three years old, Tickle-Me-Elmo was a big deal. One Christmas there was a new version of Elmo, who played a guitar and sang. It was hard to find, and was considered by many to be the gift of the year.
Someone in my family bought this Elmo for one of my boys. It was generous of them. There was a big reveal at Christmas, and my son was not really impressed, he was not a big fan of Sesame Street. To all of our surprise, when someone hit the button to make Elmo dance and sing, my son responded by punting Elmo across the room. I think the little dancing creature scared him! We all laughed and until this day it is one of my favorite Christmas memories.
Here is why. We often think that if we can just get that one thing, then we will be satisfied. If I could just have that kind of relationship, that job, that kind of money in the bank, if I could live in that house, have that thing, or get the upgrade, then I would be complete.
The reality is none of those things will satisfy us for long. In fact, like Elmo, they end up the dump.
Galatians 6:14- But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
This is one of the implications of boasting in the cross. We come to the understanding that the world really does not have anything for us. We will never find our satisfaction or security in this world.
Our satisfaction or security can only be found in Christ.
Reflection:
In what ways are you tempted to put your satisfaction and security in the world?
What is your Elmo story? Did you ever think obtaining something would satisfy you only to be let down by that thing?
How do you think you could begin to find a deeper sense of satisfaction and security in Christ this week? What would that look like for you?
Day 4: Made New.
I heard a Pastor give a talk called “Adventures In Missing The Point”. It was brilliant. Basically he told stories of how we as Christ Followers can make minor things major things, essentially missing the point of the Gospel.
I mean, the Gospel can be so easily changed if we are not careful. This is what is happening in the church in Galatia, and it still happens today. Just remember Jesus + Anything = Nothing.
Jesus + Nothing = Everything.
This is why Paul say in Galatians 6:15-16 (ESV) - For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Jesus has made us new. We are new creations in Christ. We have new hearts to love God, new passions to worship and honor God, and new identities as Children of God, a new citizenship as citizens of heaven.
To be a new creation means Jesus is restoring what is broken in us. He is replacing what sin has tainted and reconciling us back to a right relationship with God. The relationship God originally intended for us to have with Him.
This is what matters.
It is not Jesus + Christian dress code.
It is not Jesus + the right denomination.
It is not Jesus + man made religion.
What really matters is this; have you been reconciled to God by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? Are you a new Creation in Christ Jesus?
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection:
How has your life changed since becoming a new creation in Christ?
Are there currently any areas of your life that you need God to transform to be more like Him and experience the life He desires for you.
Pray for the assurance of your identity as a child of God. Ask God to help you live out this new identity with confidence and joy, knowing that your past, present, and future are secure in Him.
Day 5: The Surrendered Life.
Galatians 6:14 (ESV): "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
To boast in the cross of Christ, means that we live our lives fully surrendered to Jesus.
That is what Paul is talking about here. His confidence is in Christ alone. The world is dead to him, and he is dead to the world. Paul finds his satisfaction and security in Christ alone.
Living a surrendered life means we no longer hold back any part of our life from Jesus. We are His, we are available to him, and completely at his disposal.
On Sunday, I shared an illustration I originally heard from Chip Ingram. He challenged us to write God a check essentially saying, “God I am completely yours”. He then shared this prayer, which I thought I would share again. As you read through this, I would encourage you to make it your prayer if you mean it.
“ Lord, I'm YOURS. Whatever the cost may be, may Your will be done in my life. I realize I'm not here on earth to do my own thing, or to seek my own fulfillment or my own glory. I'm not here to indulge my desires, to increase my possessions, to impress people, to be popular, to prove I'm somebody important, or to promote myself. I'm not here even to be relevant or successful by human standards. I'm here to please YOU.
I offer myself to You, for You are worthy. All that I am or hope to be, I owe to You. I'm Yours by creation, and every day I receive from you life and breath and all things. And I'm Yours because You bought me, and the price you paid was the precious blood of Christ. you alone, the Triune God, are worthy to be my Lord and Master. I yield to You, my gracious and glorious heavenly Father; to the Lord Jesus who loved me and gave himself for me; to the Holy Spirit and His gracious influence and empowering.
I give you my body and each of its members...my entire inner being; my mind, my emotional life, my will...my loved ones...my marriage or my hopes for marriage...my abilities and gifts...my strengths and weaknesses...my health...my status (high or low)...my possessions...my past, my present, and my future...when and how I'll go Home.
I'm here to love You, to obey You, to glorify You, my Beloved, may I be a joy to YOU! Amen.”
- Prayer by Ruth Meyers.
Reflection:
What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus?
What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily living?