Galatians 6:17

New International Version (NIV)

From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

For Meditation

1. Have you set your sail vertically towards heaven (Col 3:1-2)? Have you made up your mind about Jesus and the grace He offers for salvation through faith in Him (Eph. 2:8-9)?
2. Have you determined not to go back to the world again to wallow in the old, filthy life you once lived, “gratifying the cravings of [your] sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts” (v.3)? Are you determined not to allow Satan to have dominion over your mind, emotions and will again (v.2), but to yield them completely to the Lordship of the Holy Spirit?
3. Have you accepted the truth that “you are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which He prepared in advance for you to do” (v.10)? Have you set your heart to remain in His hands as He works in you and through you until you bear the image of Jesus (Eph. 4:12-13)? Are you determined to remain on the altar even though the fire may burn deeper and cause some pain and sorrow sometimes (Rm. 12:1)?
4. So, why are you listening to those who want to mix grace with works – those who want to “pervert the gospel of Christ” with some wrong teachings on salvation (Gal. 1:6-7)? Why are you allowing those who do not understand the doctrine of grace alone for salvation, but want to work their way to heaven to confuse and distract you (Eph. 2:8-9)? Why would you allow them to gain mastery over your senses and reasoning?
5. Who are those people? Are they your old buddies or co-workers whose teasing is getting to you? Are they your kinsmen who demand from you, conformity to some old traditional customs and rites after your profession of faith in Christ? Is  the confusion and pressure coming from your spouse? Did any of them die to save you? Could they have, even if they wanted to? Will any of them be your judge in heaven (2 Cor. 5:10)?

I pray you will be at peace with yourself when you have done all you can to dissuade such people who confuse salvation for ‘a dose of grace and works’ by maintaining relevance for some aspects of their old life in their walk with Jesus.

May you tell them as Paul did to the Galatians, “Let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear in my body the marks of Jesus” (Gal. 6:17).

Grace be with you.

Shalom