The Verse for the Day project began for my children, sending them verses each day to encourage them.
Today we’re starting a new plan for the Verse for the Day. Rather than individual random verses, I’d like to go verse by verse through a book of the Bible. This way, we might see more the context of the Scripture we are looking at each day.
I thought we could go through Galatians.
When you start to study a book of the Bible, it’s usually good to read through the entire thing quickly to get a quick overview or feel for what is coming. It’s the view from up above, getting the general landscape of the book and what will follow. Then you can start to go verse by verse to dig into the details. Maybe you want to read through Galatians if you have time. I will try to, as well.
The first verse today then is Galatians 1:1:
“Paul, an apostle (not from men nor though man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),” (NKJV)
The verse today tells us the author of the Book of Galatians. It’s the apostle Paul who we know wrote a number of the New Testament books. An apostle in the NT was one who had seen the risen Jesus. This shows Paul’s authority to speak—as an apostle of Jesus Christ and of God the Father who raised Jesus from the dead.
We see that Paul is an apostle not from man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father.
Think about the choice by God of Paul to be an apostle. Paul had been Saul, the one who had persecuted the Christians. You may know the story of his conversion on the road to Damascus. (See Acts 9.)
If man had chosen an apostle to follow Christ, I doubt he would have chosen Saul who became Paul. Man doesn’t see things like God. I think this is a picture of God choosing the weaker things, the things the world wouldn’t expect. And it demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of God!
And if God can choose and use Saul who He made Paul, what do you think he can do with you or me? He’s really not limited by our mistakes or sins, is He? The risen Lord Jesus can call us and redeem us and use us for God’s glory.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, I have no idea if this day by day through Galatians is possible. I don’t know enough to even write about the verses that will come. But I pray in spite of my obvious weakness, You will teach us and lead us through this study, this book, and that through it, we will come to know and love You and your gospel more. Thank You that You take the unlikely, the unexpected, and are able to use that which we can’t conceive for your great glory and kingdom advancement. Would you work in and through us by the power of the Spirit. Thank you that you are a Risen Lord who is alive and powerful to do all of these things and more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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