Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Wednesday, March 11, Galatians 1:3

"grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,"

Some take this as just a simple greeting, which it is, but with a believer it holds far more significance than to others, for we understand what true "grace" is, and because of that grace we have a "peace that passes all understanding", which keeps our hearts and minds living in the hope of our future through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

These go together in a unique way with believers. At first we have a peace that gives us relief when we, by the grace of God are forgiven from our sins and made children of God. We read that "He will never leave or forsake us", and that we "shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (Hebrews 13:5, John 10:27)

Then, as we mature in Christ, learning to walk in this new creation, and the realization of how thoroughly wicked we are naturally, this grace turns into an understanding aptly put by someone: "But by the grace of God there go I".

We then go from relief, to "how can God forgive such a sinner as me?" The first guilt leads to repentance. This second guilt can lead to deception and force us again to think that we need to manufacture works to make us look good before God and man. We lose our childlike dependence upon His grace that lives in Christ's righteousness and try to establish our own righteousness.

And that leads, and has led, generations of Christians into false "works-based religions" instead of a living relationship with God. We don't have to establish our righteousness by our works, for our works left on our own are always found wanting, and lead to depression, putting us right back into our little cages of self-centered darkness and despair. Whenever one relies on his old nature to "get right with God", he is actually rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit.

For God is the only one who can bring a good work in our lives. According to Ephesians 2:10: "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has foreordained that we should walk in them."

Which means that, when we walk in the Spirit, not worrying about ourselves and our own righteousness, but living for the pleasure of the King, we will automatically do the good works He has planned for us to do from before the foundation of the world.

And His "good works" are purposeful, and serve HIS divine purpose, which only leads to Goodness and brings us into His glory. And we then live in His reflection, and as the comforting warmth, or "glory" of the sun warms our hearts and sustains life in this world, living in the warmth His glory sustains us eternally.

So, we realize that we don't have to take ourselves too seriously. We need to take Him seriously, for we are flawed but He is perfect. And "if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things" (1 John 3:20). And when we are born again by the grace of God, we can have peace because we trust Him to see us through to the end, as it is written in Philippians 1:6: "Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Which might come sooner than you think. Come quickly Jesus!

But you must not neglect the first step, or you yourself will be deceived. You must be born again. Repent and believe in Him today!

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*KJV used*

Memory Helps

"grace be to you and peace (6 wds)
FROM God the Father, (4 wds)
AND FROM OUR Lord Jesus Christ," (6 wds)

Again, for my weak memory I have to use pictures to help me. And sometimes, my pictures are weird. I picture a "grease can" with a label saying "good grease" for grace. I use an Indian "peace pipe" for "peace". I use a huge "throne" to represent "God the Father", and I use a "cross" to represent "our Lord Jesus Christ".

Now, in this picture I can simply link one by one each picture while reciting the verse "out loud". First the "good grease" can with a peace pipe stuck in it sitting next to the throne which has a cross next to it.

"Grease" be to you and "peace pipe" from "Big Throne" and the "Cross". If that seems a little irreverent to you, think of something else that suits you.

Linking verse numbers:

I use my dear "Ma" (M=3) as my memory character for verses 3. She is bringing me to the can, picking up the peace pipe, and we both, are wearing a huge bow Tie (Tie =1, for chapter 1) as we kneel before the Throne and the Cross. In that way I have chapter 1:3 link to the verse. I could add another "Gal" to the picture if I want to remember Galatians, but as I said, I already know this is Galatians, so I don't need any reminder.