What a Difference a Preposition Makes

The Scripture I read today in my daily devotional was Galatians 2:20: ” I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

 I have read this passage many times and each time I meditate on what it means to be crucified with Christ- to die to self; to live for Christ alone; that Christ lives in me and the flesh needs to move over. The problem has always been that it takes a train wreck sometimes to get my flesh to roll over and play dead. In fact my flesh cries out: ” do it my way– don’t deny me….” 

For years I have prayed: ” I must decrease so that He can increase.” All good stuff. But often for me I end up trying too hard; striving and sometimes hitting my overdrive/perfectionistic button. Sound familiar to any of you? 

This morning the Scripture in Galatians took on a whole new meaning just because of one little preposition  ” …..and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of Man. My translation read “IN the Son of Man; the translation in my devotional read: “OF the Son of Man.” What a difference a preposition makes!!

Faith in the Son of Man is essential to live for Christ; but the faith OF the Son of Man is essential to live a spirit filled life. One focuses on my working to achieve through my faith the crucified life; the other rests in the assurance that the faith of Christ is at work in me producing the fruit of a Godly life. 

May seem like a small thing to you, but for someone like me who wants to get it right, do it right, and achieve my goal of Christlikeness, it can become work. And the truth is that we are saved by grace and we are kept by the grace of God. We need only to love Him and surrender to His love. 

Sound easy? Not for a perfectionist like me. But I plan on reading this Scripture every day and reminding myself that I live by the faith OF Christ who lives in me. And I know that HIS faith was such that He gave His very life for me. That kind of faith can move any mountain. So if you have any mountains that need moving remember the little preposition in Galatians 2:20 and rest in the assurance that Christ’s faith living in you can move all of your mountains!!

Love Covers a Multitude of Sins

I just returned from a trip to Mexico and had a delightful time.  I had time to read and to be refreshed again. I met a variety of people and realized how diversity is such a gift. As Christians, it is easy to be with our Christian friends, and yet Jesus always hung out with a variety of people, many of whom were outcasts. As I reflect on my trip, I realize that we are called to love people even if we have nothing in common, even if they are do not believe the same things that we believe. Jesus taught us that kingdom living is worked out in our attitudes, our thoughts and actions; in how we love others. As Christians we hold a standard; in a sense we are torchbearers holding up God’s Word as truth. But if we do not do so in love, we become clanging cymbals and no one will listen to our message of hope. People are struggling in many ways. They first need to know they are loved before they ever will here our message of hope. We live in critical times of financial, moral, ethical, and spiritual struggles. We have an opportunity to love people with Christ’s love and offer hope. You have heard it said that your life may be the only Bible that someone reads. We must always remember that love covers a multitude of sins- ours and others. Above all love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. (I Peter 4:8)