by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 29, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
— Galatians 5:1
The book of Galatians isn’t a gentle letter.
It’s a spiritual emergency flare.
Paul is writing to Gentile believers in the region of Galatia who were being duped, deceived, and derailed—not by the pagan world, but by religious men from the Jerusalem church (Galatians 2:3–4).
These men taught that faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection wasn’t enough (sound familiar?).
They claimed Gentile believers could not be saved unless they were circumcised and kept the law of Moses.
Paul’s response?
Absolutely not.
He didn’t compromise—not for a moment.
Instead, he stood boldly in the truth of the gospel that had been revealed to him by the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
‘to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.’
—Galatians 2:5
“…in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”
— Romans 2:16
“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
— Galatians 2:21
A New Revelation from the Risen Christ
This wasn’t just about circumcision—it was about the entire Mosaic law.
Was salvation by grace through faith alone in the gospel, or was it a mix of faith plus law-keeping?
Paul makes it crystal clear:
He didn’t receive his gospel from Peter, James, or John.
He received it by direct revelation from the ascended, glorified Christ (Galatians 1:11–12).
This gospel wasn’t a continuation of Israel’s covenant law—it was something entirely new, entrusted to Paul for the Gentiles:
“But when it pleased God… to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles…”
— Galatians 1:15–16
Paul Confronts the Jerusalem Leaders
Paul didn’t just fire off a letter—he went to Jerusalem (directed by the Lord Jesus Himself) and stood face-to-face with the apostles and elders.
He confronted their commands of keeping the law head-on (Galatians 2:1–5).
He told them plainly:
Salvation is now by grace through faith—period.
Not grace plus law.
Not faith plus works.
Faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone.
“We who are Jews by nature… knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ…”
— Galatians 2:15–16
Why It Still Matters
The Galatian error is alive and well today.
Religious voices continue to blend law and grace—adding rituals, requirements, and works to the gospel of Christ.
But Paul’s warning stands:
‘But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.’
—Galatians 1:8-9
“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
— Galatians 3:3
“Stand fast… do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
— Galatians 5:1
The law was a burden no one could bear (Acts 15:10).
Christ came not to reinforce it—but to fulfill it and set us free from its demands (Romans 10:4).
You Are Free—Stand in It
If you’ve trusted in Christ alone for salvation, then this is who you are:
✅ Justified by grace
✅ Sealed by the Spirit
✅ Free from the law
✅ Secure in Christ
So don’t go back.
Don’t let anyone drag you into a gospel of works, fear, or religious performance.
“For you are not under law but under grace.”
— Romans 6:14
Final Word
The gospel Paul preached is the only gospel that saves today:
“…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day…”
— 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—apart from the works of the law.
That’s why Paul wrote Galatians.
That’s why he confronted the leaders in Jerusalem.
And that’s why you must stand fast in the liberty Christ has purchased for you.
You are free.
Now walk in it, believe it, and never trade it for the bondage of law again.
📖 Reading Plan: Grace vs. Law
Day 1: Galatians 5:1–6
Stand firm in the freedom Christ purchased. Don’t return to bondage.
Day 2: Acts 15:1–11
Peter confirms that salvation is through grace—not the law.
Day 3: Romans 6:14 & Romans 10:1–4
We are not under the law, but under grace—Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.
👇
Free PDF Download👉 📄 Stand Fast in Freedom – Study Guide
by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 28, 2025 | Devotionals |
For Your Encouragement and Edification
No matter how dark the valley or deep the pain, it is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed when we are with the Lord in heaven.
“For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.”
— Psalm 30:5
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:17
Tears come.
Trials come.
There are nights that feel unending—and valleys that seem too deep to climb out of.
But God’s Word doesn’t minimize your pain; it puts it into eternal perspective.
Your sorrow is real—but so is the promise of joy.
Your affliction hurts—but it is momentary compared to the eternal glory being prepared for you.
God Is Not Finished
Psalm 30 reminds us: the weeping is temporary, but God’s favor is forever.
He doesn’t leave you in the night—He walks with you through it.
And 2 Corinthians 4 reminds us: your affliction is doing something.
It’s not pointless.
It’s not wasted.
God is using every painful step to work in you something weighty, eternal, and glorious.
Hope for the Broken
If you’re in a season of heaviness right now, don’t lose heart:
- The night will break.
- The tears will dry.
- The morning will come.
And with it—joy that the world didn’t give and can never take away.
So hold on.
You’re not being crushed—you’re being prepared for something far greater than you can imagine.
“Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.”
📖 Today’s Reading Plan: Hope Through Hardship
- Psalm 30:1–12 — From sorrow to song
- 2 Corinthians 4:7–18 — Afflicted, not crushed
- Revelation 21:1–7 — No more pain, no more tears—only glory
by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 24, 2025 | Devotionals |
For Your Encouragement and Edification
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
—2 Timothy 1:7
We don’t belong here.
Not in this fallen system. Not under this dark rule. Not in this world system ruled by the evil one.
We are outsiders—citizens of heaven, ambassadors of a kingdom not of this world (Philippians 3:20).
We’ve been rescued—snatched from the grip of darkness and translated into the body of Christ (Colossians 1:13). And because of that, we don’t blend in—we clash.
The Battle Is Real
The pain, the persecution, the despair—it isn’t your imagination.
Believers face more than just the troubles of life.
We face hell’s hatred.
We stand in direct opposition to the god of this world, Satan, who is bent on destroying everything God has created. And that includes you.
He attacks your joy.
He stirs confusion.
He sows fear.
He whispers lies into your mind and uses the world around you as a weapon.
But here’s the truth:
The War Is Already Won
The Lord Jesus Christ crushed the serpent’s head at the cross.
Victory isn’t pending—it was accomplished 2,000 years ago by God the Son.
We are not fighting for victory—we are fighting from victory.
And because of that, you have nothing to fear.
“God has not given us a spirit of fear…”
That fear you feel?
That crippling anxiety?
That sense of dread and discouragement?
It’s not from God.
What is from God?
- Power – the strength of the Holy Spirit to stand, speak truth, and press on.
- Love – a heart that overcomes evil with good, never compromising.
- A sound mind – clear thinking, grounded truth (what is truth? Christ Jesus), and unshakable confidence in His Word.
Your Weapon: The Word
This battle isn’t won with willpower.
It’s not won with optimism.
It’s won with truth.
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.”
—2 Corinthians 10:4
You want to walk in power?
You want to resist fear, lies, and spiritual attacks?
Study the Word of God.
Know it. Stand on it. Speak it. Cling to it.
Because when the world screams in chaos, and Satan presses in with deception, your greatest defense and deadliest offense is truth rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15).
Final Word
You were never promised ease.
You were promised eternal life.
You were never promised applause.
You were promised tribulation.
But you were also promised power, love, and a sound mind.
Fear is a liar.
Christ is the Victor.
And you are His.
So take your stand, soldier of Christ.
Suit up.
Hold fast.
And never surrender to fear.
🔥 Reading Plan: Strength for the Battle
Day 1: 2 Timothy 1:6–14
Fan into flame the gift of God. You’ve been entrusted with truth—walk in power, love, and a sound mind.
Day 2: Ephesians 6:10–18
The armor of God equips you for spiritual battle. Stand firm, fully armed, and ready for the fight.
Day 3: Romans 8:31–39
Nothing can separate you from God’s love. You are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves you.
by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 23, 2025 | Devotionals |
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalms 27:1
Life has a way of throwing shadows—uncertainty, illness, loss, fear of the future. But Psalm 27:1 cuts through that darkness like a sword of light:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation…”
Not a light. Not a salvation. He is your light. He is your salvation. It’s personal. It’s present. It’s powerful.
When David penned this, he wasn’t in a palace sipping peace. He was surrounded by enemies, slander, betrayal—yet he spoke with boldness. Why?
Because he knew his God.
He didn’t place his confidence in his circumstances but in the character of the Lord—a God who saves, delivers, strengthens, and never forsakes His own.
What Fear Can’t Do
Fear can shake your hands.
Fear can race your heart.
But fear cannot touch your salvation.
It cannot steal your light.
It cannot break the One who holds you.
“Whom shall I fear?”
“Of whom shall I be afraid?”
That’s not denial. That’s defiance—against fear, darkness, and doubt. It’s the bold cry of a heart anchored in truth.
Your Strength Today
Maybe today you feel weak, worn out, or uncertain. Let this verse speaks directly to your heart:
“The Lord is the strength of my life…”
He doesn’t lend you strength—He is your strength.
He doesn’t give you light—He is your light.
He doesn’t offer temporary help—He is your eternal salvation.
Believe it!
Encouragement for Your Day
You don’t have to muster courage from within.
You don’t have to pretend to be fearless.
You just need to rest in the One who is never afraid.
Whatever you’re facing today, say it aloud if you need to:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”
Let that truth carry you through.
📖 3-Day Reading Plan on God’s Strength & Protection:
Day 1 – Psalm 27:1–6 – Confidence in the face of fear
Day 2 – Isaiah 41:10–13 – God upholds you with His righteous hand
Day 3 – 2 Timothy 1:7 – God has not given you a spirit of fear
by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 22, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
For Your Encouragement and Edification
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
—1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
This is it.
This is what we’re waiting for—not survival, not ease, not a better world system. The body of Christ is NOT bringing in the kingdom. We’re waiting for Jesus Christ—our blessed hope—to appear from heaven and call us up. And when He does, everything will change in an instant.
A Promise for the Weary
For every believer tired of the battle, broken by the world, or grieving over loss—this passage is your anchor. Paul didn’t write this to stir debate—he wrote it to comfort the saints:
“Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
—1 Thessalonians 4:18
We are not appointed to wrath (1 Thess. 5:9). We are appointed to glory. And on that day when the trumpet sounds, the dead in Christ will rise first—and then, we who are alive and remain will be caught up (harpazō in Greek) to meet Him in the air.
No more sorrow.
No more sin.
No more death.
Only joy in His presence—forever.
Transformed in the Twinkling of an Eye
The rapture isn’t just an escape—it’s a transformation.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
—1 Corinthians 15:51–52
God is not only taking us up—He’s changing our bodies.
These corruptible, broken, sin-worn bodies will put on incorruption. These mortal, dying shells will be clothed in immortality. You won’t just be rescued—you’ll be remade.
Our Glorious Body—Like His
Paul writes again in Philippians:
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body…”
—Philippians 3:20–21
Just as Jesus rose from the dead with a glorified, resurrected body—so will we. We will have an immortal body—a glorious body like Him.
Resurrected. Eternal. Glorious.
Be Comforted. Be Ready.
This is the comfort that keeps us going.
This is the joy that anchors us in the storm.
He is coming—and we will be with Him forever.
So hold fast, believer. Keep looking up. Don’t let this world drag you down. Don’t get lost in the chaos of the age.
He’s coming—for you.
“And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:17)
📣 Final Words
These are not just hopeful ideas—they are divine promises. Let’s remind one another often:
“Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
—1 Thessalonians 4:18
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Titus 2:13
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:7