November 6, 2019
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
New International Version (NIV)
                Even our heroes sometimes have a bad day.  Having seen the sheet come down from heaven giving permission to move beyond dietary laws, Peter ate freely with the Gentiles in Galatia, until the Judaizers came.  These Jewish believers wanted the Gentiles to follow the dietary laws of the Old Testament.  Peter joined in with them.  So Paul confronted him, asking, “You, a Jew who live like a Gentile . . . how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?”

                Do we ever change our behavior based upon our context?  Most of us like approval enough to acclimate to those who are around us.  “When in Rome . . .”  Whatever our circumstances, relationship with Christ provides our immediate context and identity.  So Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ.”  Paul saw all believers “in Christ.”  When Christ was crucified so were we.

                Instead of living by the meticulous dietary laws we live by faith in Christ who loved us and gave himself for us.  We trust in his faithfulness and not in our own.  By his death we are justified, and by his life we are sanctified.  Christ lives in us.  As trophies of God’s grace, we have no cause to be legalistic with others.  
Pray with me:      
Father, thank you for the old, rugged cross on which our Savior died.  Help us today to take up our crosses and follow you.  Since we belong to you, let us crucify the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  With gratitude for your grace, make us gracious to others.  In love let us leave legalism behind, we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 

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