I have to apologize. I’m a little slow on getting my notes from Galatians posted. That’s the next stop in my journey through the Bible. Here are my thoughts and highlights:

• God’s plan for us is more than just human optimism. He wants everyone to experience forgiveness from sin and enter into relationship with him.
• Titus was not required to be circumcised. I guess he just wasn’t cut out for it.
• God isn’t concerned with my outward appearances. He’s concerned with what’s happening on the inside.
• Self-improvement doesn’t make me right with God. It’s my faith in Jesus that makes the difference.
• "It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me."
• If religion was the answer–if all we had to do was follow a set of rules–then Jesus died unnecessarily on the cross. The fact is, though, his death paid the penalty for our sins.
• In my experience, it’s easier to follow rules than it is to express my faith by loving God and loving others. Rules are black and white. Love is not.
• We are all equal in Christ.
• "They want to shut you out of the free world of God’s grace so that you will always depend on them for approval and direction, making them feel important." That’s why I don’t like religious people.
• "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that… Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."
• Because of the cross, I’ve been "set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate."

Galatians is one of my favorite books in the Bible. It’s all about the freedom we have in Christ. Paul wanted people to know there’s a free life in God that goes way beyond religious rules and regulations. As a recovering perfectionist rule-follower who thought I could earn my way into Heaven, that’s good news.