Happy is the one who listens to Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting beside My doors. For whoever finds Me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. Proverbs 8:34-35 NRSV.

God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2.

There is no substitute for being led by Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. And in our chapter, Galatians 5, Paul is directing the churches of Galatia, and indeed, all of us, to trust in what God is doing. It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold, I Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Again I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. v. 1-4. These are difficult verses for me to understand. I can only imagine there were some who were insisting men had to be circumcised to please God as though to call them to Judaism alone. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves. v. 5-12. Strong words. I was reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 2:29: But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. v. 13-26.

Circumcision by the hands of men is not what is needed by all people, male or female. What is needed? Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26. Can we be led by the Spirit? The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The deeds of the flesh turned away from God are evident and all around us in this life and through all the ages of mankind. They benefit us nothing! Those deeds of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God. What then needs to change? Thus says the Lord GOD, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places to be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. They will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken and will do it.” Ezekiel 36:33-36. That is our hope. Our hope is in Creator God and it is by His Love and our Hope in Him that becomes the Light we see by now. We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18. But what about right now in our lives lived in what is seen and temporary that presses in all around us? For we through the Spirit…by faith…are waiting for the hope of righteousness…For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything…but faith working through love. The Spirit is working always in those turned to Him. And in our journey with Him in the inner workings of His work in our hearts, we know His Presence leading us. But we need to fix our eyes on Him. Then we see Hope that is real!