SCRIPTURE: Galatians 1
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel– which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. [Galatians 1:6-7] Paul is writing to a small, struggling house church, young believers who are being misled. Paul, as a God-appointed missionary for the good news message of Jesus, is outraged. As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! [Galatians 1:9] Wow, this is a serious judgment?
“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” [Matthew 16:6] What is at stake here is not just minor differences on secondary matters, but the essence of the good news: whether we are accepted by God because we are religious or because of God’s mercy and forgiveness through Jesus. The yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees is the distorted message of God. Jesus urges us, like Paul, to be wary of false teaching about the basic message of grace. Its not about being religious, i.e. what we do to earn God’s favour. This is a dead end; NOTHING we do earns God’s approval, it is always incomplete, imperfect. Only God’s gracious mercy explains how He can forgive and help us.
The mission of God is to restore His kingdom paradise through grace, mercy and love. God does not bring us back by anger and judgment, but by mercy and forgiveness. We are won over by love, not by force. From the beginning, Satan has been misleading people about God, making Him out to be a tyrant, a weakling, an ogre, a fool, a distant, uncaring or impersonal deity. God has revealed what He is like through Jesus [John 14:9], but Satan continues to mislead us and distort this picture.
This passage reminds me that I need to continually test my understanding of the message of Jesus, to be clear that it compares to the picture that God has revealed through Jesus. I need to be careful, to be on guard. The good news of God, and the hope of the world, depends on this message. The world does not need another religion, it needs grace, mercy and love. This is why Paul is so severe: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! [Galatians 1:9]
PRAYER:
Lord, people need good news, desperately. Help me not to mess them up with wrong ideas or misleading teaching.
Heavenly Father, help me by Your Spirit to live my faith out in such a way each and every day with the passion that should come from knowing that You sent Your Son to rescue / save me from the evil of this world. This fact leaves no room and no excuses for apathy or lethargic attitude.
Thank You LORD that all I need is faith in Christ to be saved. LORD, with all the rules, regulations and judgements that so many try to impose we must get on our knees and pray that the ugliness of these lies be exposed by Your Truth. Shine Your Holy Light into the darkness of these false ways. We must live and teach simple faith for anything else totally denies the power of Christ’s death on the cross.
LORD, as I live out each day, may I live only to please You. What does my faith walk reveal each day? Who or what does it give testimony to? LORD, please help me for I long to bring glory and honour to You and You alone. You know how greatly I have struggled with the stronghold of people addiction. Thank You LORD for the freedom that You have brought to me in that. LORD, may I truly live as if I have been rescued and saved by Your mighty power.
Forgive us Father for being so unconcerned with what our lives are revealing individually but also collectively as a body of believers in the church today. If we are all living to please You, then why is there such division, such judgement, such strife and lack of unity among believers today? LORD, help us for Your word is quite clear on the consequences of twisting the gospel to suit our personal preferences and life style choices. Change our hearts Oh God, make us ever true; change our hearts Oh God, may we be like You. Transformation LORD, that is what we are in great need of. Send Your refining fire, renew us.
Paul was in kingdom service – not because of man’s approval but by His apppointment. Paul was called by God and procaimed His gospel. It was not man made nor self taught but given by the Spirit. Talk about being Spirit driven!
Paul also recognizes that he was special – set apart for service. All of God’s children are special and set apart for service. All must listen to the Voice speaking to us saying This is the Way. Walk in it. As Paul was God driven so I too need to by God driven, listening, hearing Him speaking to me as I go forward in His Ways and not my ways.
Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.
O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.
O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.
O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessèd face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.