January 12, 2026; Galatians 6

Daily Dose of Hope

January 12, 2026

 

Scripture: Galatians 6

 

Prayer:  Dear Lord, I feel the need to just start with silence this morning.  Help us sit and reflect on you and your presence...Jesus, we need you.  We go through our days distracted and in a hurry, sometimes even forgetting to pray or acknowledge you.  Help us to be aware of your presence, knowing that you walk with us every step of the way, guiding us and leading us in all our words, actions, and decisions.  This is your day, Lord.  Amen.

 

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a journey through the letters of Paul.

 

Today’s reading is Galatians 6.  We have reached the final chapter of Paul's letter to the Galatians.  Keep in mind, as we read this and many of Paul’s letters, we are privy to only one side of the conversation. It would be really helpful to know how the Galatians responded to Paul!  What were their initial concerns and fears that made their way to Paul in the first place?  Paul is about to close out this conversation with the Galatians and it’s impossible for us to get the whole picture.

 

That being said, we get the gist.  In this final chapter, Paul certainly emphasizes the main point of the letter, that salvation is found in the cross of Jesus and not in the law.  But it’s here that Paul is also addressing “so what does this mean for our everyday lives?”  Faith is what is absolutely critical for Galatian believers but works demonstrate that belief.  While the specific works of the law are no longer relevant, how a believer behaves is still very much relevant!  One scholar said that Paul is saying that faith in Jesus and actions are inseparable, like breathing in and breathing out.  You can’t say you believe in Jesus and then not change your actions.  That’s why Paul is encouraging the Galatians to bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ in verse 2, why each person must bear their own load in verse 5, and why each person will reap what they sow in verse 7.  He encourages them to not lose heart in doing good, don’t grow weary in the assurance that they will reap what they’ve planted in verse 9. 

 

The next part is actually kind of humorous.  In verse 11, Paul is actually taking the pen from the scribe (letters at that time were usually dictated to a professional scribe) and writing his own conclusion. He is clear that he is writing this part on his own with large letters.  It’s especially critical to him and he wants to emphasize it one more time.  He is going back, one last time, to his main point.  He has preached to him the true Gospel – salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone.  Works of the law have nothing to do with salvation.  The false teachers who came after him have preached a false Gospel, saying that to be in right relationship with God, the Galatians have to be circumcised (and follow the whole law as well). 

 

Then, he closes by saying that neither circumcision or uncircumsion matter.  What matters is the new creation.  What does this mean?  The best way to describe it might be a radical transformation that occurs because of our belief in Jesus.  The old ways are gone and we are new people.  It means spiritual rebirth, characterized by a new identity and life purpose.  The new creation means we are no longer defined by our old identity and divisions but by our union with Jesus. 

 

How have you experienced this new creation in your life?  How would you describe you before and after identity in Jesus? 

 

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki