Biblical Meditations by Josiah

Paul defends himself through logic. If he preached what they demanded, there would be no cost. But there is a cost. The offense of the cross is real. And he is still bearing it. Meditate on the word offense. What it means that the cross carries one. Galatians 5: 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed...

Trust and accountability in the same sentence. Paul extends confidence to the church and names that the one troubling them will face consequences. He doesn't soften either. Sit with both. The belief he holds for them. And the weight of that final phrase: whoever he is Galatians 5:10   I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the...

Short and to the point. The meditation on a little bit of leaven ruining the whole lump is referring to how just a tiny bit of legalism can ruin a whole entire group of believers. Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 

Meditation on God's mind toward legalism. He created the law so that we might see HIM for who he is and who we are not. Our ways are not his ways, our thoughts are not his thoughts. That's why he sent Jesus to fulfill the law. He is not asking us to live perfectly, he's inviting us into relationship with Him. Legalism prevents us from experiencing the goodness of God and actually has t...

Meditation on those that Paul is writing to who have completely ignored the gospel and instead pursued a works based faith that only leads to destruction and enslavement to an impossible standard. Galatians 5:7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

Meditation on how the only right standing we have is through the blood of Jesus Christ. You can be a part of the right church, you can have the right credentials, you can even have the right theology, but without Christ they amount to nothing. Likewise, our status of being in the wrong club, having the wrong credentials, and having wrong theology means nothing. It's Christ or nothing. Galatian...

Meditation on how the Spirit is our only hope at righteousness. Without God working in our inner being, we are doomed to repeat our sins over and over again without repentance. Galatians 5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

Meditation on how God's law can't be used as a bludgeon. Works will not save us because no one can keep the law. Galatians 5:4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

Our works do not save us. If we think a religious act or acts is the key to life and life eternal, we are then obligated to keep every part of God's law and will be judged accordingly. Meditate on how religion matters less than a relationship with Jesus. Galatians 5:3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 

Paul is addressing the systemic issue of Jews promoting the work of circumcision as necessary for salvation. Meditate on the fact that works can't save you and that Christ's death becomes worthless when we put our religious works on a pedestal. Galatians 5:2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.

Christ died so that you can be free from sin. Free from anxiety, free from depression, free from all the ills of this world. Meditate on how life changing a relationship with Christ actually is, how wonderful a God we serve to send Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help us through this life until Heaven makes it's full descent on the earth. Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fi...

The wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Nothing is missed; no account is left open. We meditate in silence on Colossians 3:25, sitting honestly with a God who sees everything. A guided Christian meditation on justice.

The work done in obscurity is not forgotten. There is an inheritance waiting. We meditate slowly on Colossians 3:24, sitting with the long-horizon hope that keeps faithful service from feeling empty. A guided Christian meditation on reward and the Lord we are serving.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. We sit in silence with Colossians 3:23; one verse that reframes everything on the desk, in the kitchen, on the job site. A guided Christian meditation on work and who it's really for.

Not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Someone is always watching. We meditate slowly on Colossians 3:22, sitting with the fear of the Lord as the thing that holds integrity together. A guided Christian meditation on faithfulness.

Do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Don't crush what you were meant to cultivate. We sit in silence with Colossians 3:21; one sentence that lands hard for anyone raising the young. A guided Christian meditation for fathers.

Children, obey your parents in everything; for this pleases the Lord. The reason matters as much as the command. We meditate slowly on Colossians 3:20, sitting with obedience not as duty but as gift. A guided Christian meditation on the pleasure of God.

Love your wives. Do not be harsh with them. Two commands; one vision of what a man is meant to be. We meditate in silence on Colossians 3:19. A guided Christian meditation for husbands.

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Paul says it simply and moves on. We meditate slowly on Colossians 3:18, sitting with a verse that asks something real of us inside the order God has given. A guided Christian meditation on what faithfulness looks like in the home.

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. Whatever. We meditate in silence on Colossians 3:17, sitting with how much that word actually includes. A guided Christian meditation on ordinary life offered to God.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. In this episode, we practice exactly that. We sit in silence with Colossians 3:16, letting the word slow down, settle, and stay. A guided Christian meditation on scripture and the fullness it brings.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Not visit; rule. We meditate slowly on Colossians 3:15, listening for the quiet authority of that peace in the places where something else has been governing. A guided Christian meditation on rest and the peace that calls us.

Above all these, put on love; which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Love is not one virtue among many here. It is the thing that holds the rest. We meditate in silence on Colossians 3:14. A guided Christian meditation on the bond that makes a life whole.

As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. The standard is given to us; we didn't set it. We sit in silence with Colossians 3:13 and bring whatever we're holding to the one who forgave first. A guided Christian meditation on forgiveness.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved. Before Paul tells us what to wear, he tells us who we are. We meditate slowly on Colossians 3:12, letting identity come before effort. A guided Christian meditation on what it means to be clothed in what God has already given.