November 7, 2017: SOAP #2896:  Job 31, 32; Galatians 5,6

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 6:3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.

Observation:  Although I am not under the Old Testament Law, truth about God affects how I think about myself and my brother.  Having God in my life makes a difference!

Application:  Verse 3:  I need to have honest thoughts regarding myself.  Of course, the best place to find the truth about myself is in God’s Word.  To best understand me, I must begin not with me, but with the One Who made me.  What were His plans and purposes in this creation of His?   Only when I understand God’s plan and desires can I best understand me, for God created me to perfectly fit into His Divine plan.
Verse 4: There is a tendency in me (pride) to think highly of my achievements and less of my failures.  I can blow up my accomplishments into something big and think that my sin is of no consequence!  I can be quick to judge the results of my brother’s work while excusing the poor results of my own work thinking “my heart was in the right place.”  Or I take pride in how successful I am in comparison to my brother.  Or I am ashamed of my poor results in the light of my brother’s obvious successes.
Verse 5: Instead of taking so much time to see how my neighbor is doing, I should just get about doing what is before me to do!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I am so dependent on you living inside me.  Keep bringing these practical scriptures to my mink.  Keep me walking in humility, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!