A concise commentary on Galatians Galatians 6:6-8 Verse: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Commentary: Actions have consequences; sowing to please the Spirit leads to eternal life. Application: Invest in spiritual growth and good deeds, knowing they yield lasting rewards.

A concise commentary on Galatians Galatians 6:3-5 Verse: If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Commentary: Paul warns against pride, urging self-awareness and personal responsibility. Application: Maintain humility and focus on your own spiritual journey.

Ellen G. White Jeremiah 22:16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD. Commentary: Christ’s words in regard to our duty to the poor show the spirit in which all work for God is to be done, and open a field where all may find something to do. “The poor always ye have with you” (John 12:8), said Jesus, and none need complain that there is no place where they can labor for Christ. As long as there are hungry ones in God’s world to be fed, naked ones to be clothed, perishing souls that need the bread of life, there is work for us to do. Every comfort we have, every gracious gift of God to us, every piece of money needlessly expended, pleads for the poor and the naked. 11LtMs, Ms 58, 1896, par. 22

Conflict and Courage. Esther 1:1-12 When the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded ... to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. Esther 1:10, 11. When this command came from the king, Vashti did not carry out his orders, because she knew that wine had been freely used, and that Ahasuerus was under the influence of the intoxicating liquor. For her husband's sake as well as her own, she decided not to leave her position at the head of the women of the court.37The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 3:1139. It was when the king was not himself, when his reason was dethroned by wine-drinking that he sent for the queen, that those present at his feast, men besotted by wine, might gaze on her beauty. She acted in harmony with a pure conscience. Vashti refused to obey the king's command, thinking that when he came to himself, he would commend her course of action. But the king had unwise advisers. They argued it would be a power given to woman that would be to her injury.38Ibid. However high their office, men are amenable to God. The great power exercised by kings, often leads to extremes in exaltation of self. And the worthless vows made to enact laws which disregard the higher laws of God, lead to great injustice. Occasions of indulgence such as are pictured in the first chapter of Esther, do not glorify God. But the Lord accomplishes His will through men who are nevertheless misleading others. If God did not stretch forth His restraining hand, strange presentations would be seen. But God impresses human minds to accomplish His purpose, even though the one used continues to follow wrong practices. And the Lord works out His plans through men who do not acknowledge His lessons of wisdom. In His hand is the heart of every earthly ruler, to turn whithersoever He will, as He turneth the waters of the river.39Ibid.

Admit it. You like reading the Psalms, the Gospels, Paul's epistles and maybe Esther and Ruth. But what about the least read Bible books -- I call them Orphan Books -- because they almost are never read. Here's a list I found. Hope you take the challenge to read an "orphan" or two this week. ------------------------------------ # Book Why read it? Difficulty 1 Obadiah A miniature study of pride, injustice, and God's judgment 🟢 Easy 2 Haggai A surprisingly relevant book about misplaced priorities 🟢 Easy 3 Philemon Paul, slavery, forgiveness, and Christian brotherhood in 25 verses 🟢 Easy 4 3 John A fascinating glimpse into early church politics and leadership 🟢 Easy 5 2 John Truth, love, hospitality—and boundaries 🟢 Easy 6 Nahum The dark counterpart to Jonah: what happens to Nineveh? 🟡 Medium 7 Zephaniah Judgment followed by one of the OT's beautiful pictures of God's joy 🟡 Medium 8 Jude Strange, intense, apocalyptic, and packed with unusual references 🟡 Medium 9 Habakkuk One of the Bible's best books for wrestling honestly with God 🟢 Easy 10 Lamentations Biblical poetry about grief, catastrophe, and hope 🟡 Medium 11 Joel Locusts, the Day of the LORD, and the famous promise about God's Spirit 🟡 Medium 12 Malachi A surprisingly sharp ending to the Old Testament 🟢 Easy 🏆 The ones I'd especially recommend If you only want to read five, I'd pick: Habakkuk — perhaps the most rewarding “orphan.” The entire book is essentially a conversation between a confused believer and God. Habakkuk starts by asking, “Why aren't you doing something about this?” and ends somewhere radically different. Haggai — extremely short but surprisingly practical. Its central question is basically: What happens when God's people become preoccupied with their own houses while neglecting God's house? Philemon — don't let its size fool you. It's an extraordinarily compressed little letter about power, status, forgiveness, reconciliation, and what the gospel does to human relationships. Nahum — read it immediately after Jonah if you can. Jonah tells you that Nineveh repented; Nahum, written later, tells you what eventually happened to Nineveh. Reading them together makes both books considerably more interesting. Lamentations — probably the most emotionally neglected book on the list. It gives you something the Bible is unusually good at: language for grief when everything has gone terribly wrong. 🕯️ And here's the really fun challenge Don't read these as if they're merely the Bible's “B-list.” Try reading one orphan book a week, with no commentary at first. Just read the entire thing in one sitting. You'll discover something interesting: some of the books that feel least important at first are actually the ones that illuminate the famous books around them. Jonah → Nahum Isaiah/Jeremiah → Lamentations Romans/Galatians → Habakkuk 1 John → 2 John → 3 John Ezra/Nehemiah → Haggai

A concise commentary on Galatians Galatians 6:1-2 Verse: Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. Commentary: Paul encourages gentle restoration and mutual support among believers. Application: Approach others with compassion and support, fostering a caring community.

A concise commentary on Galatians Galatians 5:26 Verse: Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Commentary: Paul warns against pride and division within the community. Application: Foster humility and unity, avoiding behaviors that cause discord.

A concise commentary on Galatians Galatians 5:24-25 Verse: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Commentary: Believers are called to put aside sinful desires, living by the Spirit. Application: Embrace a new life in Christ, rejecting old sinful patterns.

A concise commentary on Galatians Galatians 5:22-23 Verse: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Commentary: These virtues are the natural result of a life led by the Spirit. Application: Strive to develop these qualities as evidence of spiritual growth.

A concise commentary on Galatians Galatians 5:19-21 Verse: The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery. Commentary: Paul lists sinful behaviors that result from living by the flesh. Application: Identify and avoid actions that separate you from God’s will.