Serious Concerns

Galatians 1:1-24

Do you remember learning how to write business letters when you were in school? There are rules about formatting the return address and the recipients address, where to put the date, how many spaces to put before the greeting, and even the fact that the closing punctuation for the greeting should be a colon, rather than the less formal comma. Etc., etc.

There were rules about the format and structure of letters in the first century, too, and Paul breaks the rules as he begins his letter to the believers in Galatia. Some of his language may seem forceful enough, but the fact that he sent his letter without the required section of praises for the Galatians is AT LEAST AS OBVIOUS AS SENDING A MESSAGE IN ALL CAPS. PAUL IS SHOUTING AT THE GALATIANS!

Why? He says he's shocked by the way they've turned their backs on God and the Gospel of Jesus. We'll learn more about their mistakes and the correction Paul offers in the chapters to come. But let it be clear, Paul wants the Galatians – and us – to know without question or confusion that the Gospel is our treasure. It is not to be messed with, and it is not to be taken lightly. The Gospel, as brought to us in Scripture, is the Truth and our only hope.

As we begin reading and studying this letter to the Galatians, we know that part of Paul's purpose is to help us understand and experience in a deeper way the truth and power of the Gospel, which he summarizes for us in verse 4: "Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live."

Lord Jesus, speak to us through this letter. Reveal to us new depths of your Gospel, and correct us, where we have traded your truth for something else.

"Don't Make Me Come in There!"

For the past several days, Paul has been warning the Corinthians of his upcoming visit, giving them an opportunity to change their ways prior to his arrival. In his role as a spiritual father to the early churches, Paul was giving them the infamous parental warning of "don't make me come in there!" In other words, "you'd better work this out before I arrive!"

These new believers were figurative children in terms of their faith. They were mixing truth with lies and challenging authority. Their attitude was poor, they were unwelcoming of visitors and were unwilling to part with their "stuff" to share in the great offering being taken. In general, they were acting like a bunch of toddlers and Paul was about to arrive to impart a little godly discipline on the group as a whole. But he didn't want to do it! He admonished them to examine themselves and clean up their act so he wouldn't have to be the "heavy".

Even as I compare this group in Corinth to children, I can clearly see the correlation to modern believers like myself. We are uncomfortable if someone points out to us that we are both in the world AND of it. We squirm in our seats when there is a stewardship drive or plans to renovate the building, because "we have college and retirement to save for." Our attitudes towards those that God has put in authority over us can be, shall we say, less than respectful.

And so Paul's closing words in this letter sound amazingly similar to what I say to my quarreling children, and they are the instructions God has for each of us in today's reading:

Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Christian Fellowship

Notice that Paul is reacting to what he feels is very unfair criticism of him by some of the folks in that church fellowship.  Personal question – Have I (at times) felt that people (even other Christians) have been unfairly critical of me?  If so, what is a proper Christian response?  Notice Paul’s agony – those folks seem to have forgotten how much Paul has done for them and how much he cares for them, and how much he loves them.  Paul will be coming back to visit them, and he is concerned that some of them have fallen away from the faith.  Is this also true of me and my relationship to the Lord?  Then, as you read these words, are you thinking of members of your family and/or friends who have fallen away from the faith and the practice of Christian faith in daily living?  Is so, pause right now and pray for them, lifting them up to the Lord in loving concern.

 

Donald E. Pardun

 

Stressed, Rest, Complex

2 Corinthians 11:1-15

 

Life is complex.  There is work, family, house payments, friends, sports, reading, church, and the list goes on and on.  Dr. Dobson suggests that pressures from complexities in life are compounded for the Christian.  Because all of life’s pressures bear on believers and in addition, we have numerous spiritual activities to eat at our lives.

 

What “different gospel” has at one point or another pulled you away from Jesus?  What complexity of life has pulled you away from your promised husband, Christ?  I’m sure you have all heard that good is the enemy of the best. 

 

Sin rarely approaches us as evil, rather as a virtue or even a servant in disguise.  Simple, pure devotion to Christ should be foremost in our minds. He will give rest to the stressed.

 

Steve Louden