Daily Devotion for February 20, 2017

Prayers
Scripture
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy
I...I will lift it for you.
Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I...I will break it for you.
Chorus:
Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved.
Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I...I will be there to find you.
Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you.
Music and lyrics by Tawgs Salter.
Prayer to Have Inner Peace in the Coming Day
Heavenly God, may I have peace within, this day;
May I trust God that I am exactly where I am meant to be.
May I not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May I use those gifts that I have received, and pass on the love that has been given to me.
May I be confident knowing I am a child of God.
Let this presence settle into my bones, and allow my soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. This I pray in Christ's name,
(~ St. Therese of Lisieux)
Prayer for Those in Their Final Days
Heavenly Father, I know that all men will die, for this is the nature of life and the cost of sin. I pray for those who are in their last days. Those with cancer, or heart disease, or kidney disease, or malnutrition, or who are grieved by any of the countless diseases and traumas that bring us to our final rest. I know your sympathy for us, for through your Son, you have agonized exactly as we do; by his willing sacrifice, he gave us eternal assurance that you understand our fear and pain.
Bless those in fear of death this day, I pray. Send your Holy Spirit to console and comfort them and those who love them. Let them know the assurance of the wonderful eternity we will know, and bring them peace in their final days. In the name of the limitless love of Christ, I pray,
A Prayer After Reading Scripture
May the word I have read, Lord, be planted deeply in my mind and heart. Help me not to walk away and forget it, but to meditate on it and obey it and so built my life on the rock of your truth.
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
Today’s “Remember the Bible” Question
What Bible verse tells us that the Bible is the Word of God?
Answer: 2 Timothy 3:16
“All Scripture is inspired by God . . . .”

Half Measures
“The chief danger of the 20th century will be religion without the Holy Spirit, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and Heaven without Hell.”
~ William Booth

Galatians 6:15 (Daily Prayer Bible)
The Significant and Insignificant (Galatians #97)
Thus, it is neither circumcision nor its absence that has any significance to us, but rather a new creation. And may peace and mercy be with all who hold to this teaching, and upon the true Israel of God.
In the future let nobody trouble me about this, for I bear the stigmata of Jesus with my body.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Notes on the Scripture

s we have seen, Galatians has two primary threads of teaching. The first is the primary theological teaching of the letter: The Law of Moses has been fulfilled by Christ, and is not (nor was ever intended to be) the salvation of anyone, Jew or Gentile. The second thread deals with the practical issues of living in Christ.
Most of Paul’s epistles follow this model: A long and often heady discussion of doctrine, frequently directed at a specific issue troubling the community to which he writes. Then, a chapter or two of more general advice about living in Christ.
Verse 15 is a general summary sentence of the great doctrinal teaching of Galatians. The seed of Abraham, whom God named as the heir to His promise to Abraham, is Jesus Christ, not the Hebrews. In a word, Christianity, not Judaism, has provided the sole means of salvation to all humanity, Jew and Gentile alike. Those who believe in Christ are “the true Israel of God.”
He sounds a little peevish about those who continue to get this wrong, saying, basically, “I don’t want to hear any more about this, the issue is settled.” As a reason, he mentions the stigmata of his body, which is ambiguous. Is he saying that he is so ill or wounded that he does not want to bear the burden of further discussion? More likely, he means this to refer back to his “only boast” in verse 14: the cross of Jesus Christ. In effect, he is distinguishing himself and others, who are branded slaves to God through Christ, from those who cannot fully commit to Christ — the “Judaizers.”
The conditional blessing is unique. Paul wishes peace and mercy, but pointedly restricts it to “those who follow this teaching . . . the true Israel of God.” The readers of this letter are given a choice: Either read and follow what Paul is saying, or be deprived of God’s mercy.
Yet still today, many people simply refuse to read the simple Biblical doctrine stated in Galatians, despite Paul’s stern warning.

