Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve
EXPOSITORY ARTICLE – Galatians 3:6-18
Scott Long | Marietta, Pennsylvania
We see it all the time; one who, after he has come to understand the truth, loses confidence in what he knows. He listens to teachers of error and begins to doubt. Maybe, he says, I was too hasty.
The Galatians were such people. Paul reminds them in Galatians 3:1, “Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified,” yet, he marveled because they were turning away from that truth and toward “a different (or another kind) gospel, which is not another (gospel at all),” (Galatians 1:6). Read More
At the beginning of Acts 9, Saul of Tarsus left Jerusalem, headed for Damascus. His aim was to arrest any Christians he found there (Acts 9:1-2). On the way, he met the Lord. Having arrived in Damascus, he was taught the gospel and baptized by Ananias (Acts 9:17-18). Immediately, he began to associate and work with the Christians in Damascus (Acts 9:19-22). However, a plot against his life (Acts 9:23-25) made it necessary for Saul to leave Damascus.
Prayer can be a challenging aspect of our worship to God. It requires concentration and focus. All our mental energy must be focused upon coming reverently before God’s throne, communicating our praises, fears, needs, and thanksgiving to the Creator of the universe. Praying to God is a blessing we have as Christians and it is an expression of adoration to God. Prayer is a time when we come face to face with our struggles, realizing our genuine need for God’s strength. 
In John 8, Jesus has one of the most pointed discussions of his ministry concerning the “fatherhood” of His Jewish opponents. They claimed Abraham as their father, but Jesus replied, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the work of Abraham,” (John 8:39). Instead, Jesus points out their true father – the devil! “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do,” (John 8:44).
The book of Hebrews is a wonderful treatise on the superiority of Christianity over Judaism. It contrasts the the two God-established religions on several different counts: covenant, mediator, priesthood, tabernacle, sacrifices, promises, hope, etc.. Consistently, the writer concludes what is available in Christ is “better” (Hebrews 1:4; 7:19, 22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:40; 12:24).
The Lord’s plan is for each local church to have its own elders (overseers/shepherds) to rule and to shepherd the local flock (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). Thus, a congregation that has men qualified to do this work but refuses to appoint them rebels against the Lord. It is just as sinful to refuse to do what the Lord requires as it is to do what He forbids (James 4:17).
There are few things in this world as precious as the sound of saints singing together in the assembly. In worship, it occupies a unique place. It is an expression of our emotions without the extreme of emotionalism. Singing is a form of teaching without the use of words alone. It combines elements of emotion and instruction to the praise and glory of God. We encounter the Song of Moses in Exodus, after the Hebrews were released from Egyptian bondage. The book of Revelation is filled with scenes of the heavenly hosts and saints in heaven singing. Emphasis on singing praise to God appears in the Bible from beginning to end, so we ought to carefully consider what God’s word has to say on this subject.