Remnant Of My Heart
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Galatians 2 and Psalm 55 (NIV)
(Tony Chan, CIC Facilitator)
READ:
The following verses drew my attention as I read and listened to Galatians 2 and Psalm 55.
Galatians 2:20:
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Psalms 55:22:
Give your burdens to the LORD,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
OBSERVE:
The reading in Psalms reminds me that there will be troubles in this world and sometimes they come unexpectedly from trusted relationships. But the Psalmist’s exhortation is to remain trusting in God, who will honour those who seek Him.
On a similar note, in the letter to the Galatians, Paul lamented that his fellow apostle Peter appears to show partiality towards Gentle believers as they were not circumcised according to the Jewish law. Paul proceeded to remind us of our salvation by faith in Christ Jesus, not by works of the law and that it is Christ living in our hearts that helps us overcome the world.
APPLY:
Even though my biblical beliefs are considered foolish in this world and there is opposition to them, I am reminded that I am in this world but not of this world. Worldly influences can also cause conflicts and differences in the Christian community.
As a true believer, I need to turn my heart to the light of Christ in me so that my faith, thoughts, and actions remain pure. May my heart continue to pour out the love of Christ humbly to those who are different from me and who seemingly oppose me.
Finally, I need to continue to work with clean hands and a pure heart, as an act of devotion to God.
DO:
In this season the verse in Psalm 24:4 ‘clean hands and a pure heart’ is a constant reminder of my calling to live a spiritual life here on earth.
Also, a book I recently read has encouraged me to remember my devotion to God at the end of my work day by giving thanks and praying.
PRAY:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
