Galatians 1 – 3
I was fortunate to attend my wife’s nephew’s graduation this week. As the ceremony started the audience was reminded, “by the powers that be”, that the event was a formal occasion. Rules and expectations were established. Tradition was to be enforced. My wife, who attended the same high school, noted minor differences in procedure but held that it was pretty much the same way. As the event proceeded, a young man with Downs Syndrome came across the stage to receive his diploma. He proceeded to do a little dance and show his joy at his accomplishment. While it took all the school personnel on stage to get him refocused and redressed his classmates first, then the audience began cheering and clapping, sharing in the young man’s joy. So much for tradition. I later asked my wife’s nephew whether the young man or anyone got into trouble for the celebration. He replied “NO”, for that student was the heart of our senior class. Tradition and procedures were not important to these students because they realized what they and this young man had accomplished and the new life they would all start.
So how does this pertain to today’s reading, as we start the book of Galatians? In the first three chapters of this letter, written by the Apostle Paul, he once again had to defend his authority and authenticity of the Gospel he preached. He as well had to deal with false teachers, known as Judaizers. These people taught that Gentiles had to follow Jewish Law and customs in order to be truly saved. Throughout this letter, Paul will reemphasize the “Good News” that salvation was through faith in Jesus Christ and not in performing traditions to follow the Law. Just as with the students who broke from traditions and procedure to celebrate an accomplishment and new beginning, we to should be mindful of our own new beginning. Our salvation is based on faith in Jesus; not our adherence to old customs.
From the beginning, Paul set the stage of urgency. He uncommonly skipped over his remarks of thanksgiving after the greeting and launched into the problems. Throughout the chapters, Paul confronted allegations from the Judaizers that dealt with: 1) his preaching being unauthentic and inspired by man, 2) His being unaware of Jewish customs and 3) how the Jewish Laws were still the path to salvation. To rebuke this teaching, chapters 1 and 2 addressed his past and how God chose him and gave him revelation to the Gospel. Paul laid out a timeline showing his knowledge and zeal in Judaism, his conversion through Christ intervention and how he was inspired by Jesus, not by man or other apostles, to preach the word.
Throughout chapters 2 and 3, Paul tackled the key problem of the allegations from the Judaizers. Paul remarked that he even challenged the Apostle Peter’s hypocrisy when dealing with how salvation was obtained. Paul asserted that the Gospel was about salvation coming solely through faith in Jesus Christ, not adherence to the Laws. He used the patriarchal image of Abraham to emphasize how it was through faith in Christ (God’s promise to us) not our actions that brings about salvation. If the reverse was true then Jesus’s sacrifice was made in vain. Paul went further to explain that the purpose of the Law was to come alongside the Messiah and convict believers of their sins. There were two other purposes for the Law. The first was to give guidelines on how to live and the second was to drive us to have a relationship and be dependent on Jesus Christ.
To conclude chapter 3, Paul wanted the Galatians to understand, along with what we should take from it, that as believers in Jesus Christ, we are all children of God. Despite being Jew or Gentile, black or white, Baptist or Pentecostal, we are all able to receive God’s promise of freedom when we place our faith in his son Jesus and not by our own actions.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
May 22, 2011
2 Corinthians 11-13
Throwing Down the Gauntlet
As with the days of the knights, Paul is taking off the gloves and throwing down the gauntlet. Within these final chapters (11-13), Paul directly confronted the major issues of the letter, false teaching, defending his authority and spiritual immaturity.
In chapter 11, Paul began by reemphasizing the need for believers to focus purely on God and to not be swayed by false doctrines and teachers. This was the idea of the “pure bride” (v.2-3). Ironically, in viewing our own time we are still confronted with this as recently as yesterday. A pastor persuaded many people to believe that May 21, 2011 at 6:00p.m., the rapture was to take place. There were many who spoke out against this prediction based on biblically truth. Matthew 24:26-44 is Jesus, “THE AUTHORITY”, telling the disciples the end of time is not for man to know but to be watchful and live accordingly. We must be as alert to false teachings, as Paul was back then. From (11:11-15) Paul made known that as Satan disguises himself, so shall his servants. So remain vigilant.
In continuing our reading, Paul begins to layout his credentials for his authority to preach. He laid out several factors that distinguished him from the rest, such as: diligent hard work, imprisonment, physical torture, a stoning, several shipwrecks and long journeys with constant endangerment. Paul informed the Corinthians that he was not boasting about his own efforts but rather how God had sustained him through these trials and his weaknesses. The apostle went further as he noted how God spoke to him is his moments of physical affliction. Paul informed the believers, that God made known that His grace is all we need and that His power works best in our weakness (v.12:8-10). What a glorious thing to hold on to day by day.
In concluding today’s reading, Paul desired for the Corinthians to understand that he passionately cared about them. He wanted them to know he was not weak in comparison to other speakers but diligently chased after them, because he was invested in their maturity towards following Christ. Paul warned them that on his next visit he would openly deal with those who did not heed his corrections. To end, Paul illustrated the behaviors we should display towards others who are falling into deception: stand strong in your faith, rely on God’s grace, be vigilant to deceivers and perform redirections firmly but with love. Paul made a key point in (v. 13:10), that we should remember. A mature believer would rather use God’s truth to build/strengthen fellow believers as opposed to tearing them down.
Throwing Down the Gauntlet
As with the days of the knights, Paul is taking off the gloves and throwing down the gauntlet. Within these final chapters (11-13), Paul directly confronted the major issues of the letter, false teaching, defending his authority and spiritual immaturity.
In chapter 11, Paul began by reemphasizing the need for believers to focus purely on God and to not be swayed by false doctrines and teachers. This was the idea of the “pure bride” (v.2-3). Ironically, in viewing our own time we are still confronted with this as recently as yesterday. A pastor persuaded many people to believe that May 21, 2011 at 6:00p.m., the rapture was to take place. There were many who spoke out against this prediction based on biblically truth. Matthew 24:26-44 is Jesus, “THE AUTHORITY”, telling the disciples the end of time is not for man to know but to be watchful and live accordingly. We must be as alert to false teachings, as Paul was back then. From (11:11-15) Paul made known that as Satan disguises himself, so shall his servants. So remain vigilant.
In continuing our reading, Paul begins to layout his credentials for his authority to preach. He laid out several factors that distinguished him from the rest, such as: diligent hard work, imprisonment, physical torture, a stoning, several shipwrecks and long journeys with constant endangerment. Paul informed the Corinthians that he was not boasting about his own efforts but rather how God had sustained him through these trials and his weaknesses. The apostle went further as he noted how God spoke to him is his moments of physical affliction. Paul informed the believers, that God made known that His grace is all we need and that His power works best in our weakness (v.12:8-10). What a glorious thing to hold on to day by day.
In concluding today’s reading, Paul desired for the Corinthians to understand that he passionately cared about them. He wanted them to know he was not weak in comparison to other speakers but diligently chased after them, because he was invested in their maturity towards following Christ. Paul warned them that on his next visit he would openly deal with those who did not heed his corrections. To end, Paul illustrated the behaviors we should display towards others who are falling into deception: stand strong in your faith, rely on God’s grace, be vigilant to deceivers and perform redirections firmly but with love. Paul made a key point in (v. 13:10), that we should remember. A mature believer would rather use God’s truth to build/strengthen fellow believers as opposed to tearing them down.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday, May 19th
There is no one like God. Who is His equal? Job 39 is a continuation of a list of questions given by God to Job that started in chapter 38. The questions are rhetorical. The point; to help Job (and you and I) remember that He is God and we are not.
Job 40 shows Job silent in God’s presence. Job says that he will place his hand over his mouth. Just the same way that Princes used to do in the presence of Job. (29:9)
This makes me think; how often am I silent in the presence of a Holy God. I sing… I “pray”… I talk about Him; but when I look back I realize that I do not find myself in the position of stillness and silence before him.
I’ll just be honest; I would hate to have to go what Job went through. However I would love to know God in the way that Job knows him towards the end of this book. Truth be told though, I’m not sure I can have one without the other. Lord help us to embrace our times in the valley.
(LATE) Thursday, May 12th
(Sorry for this late post. It seems the blog website was down last week.)
I made reference in last week’s blog about Elihu’s arrogance. In some ways I could sum up Job 37 with the Latin phrase; et cetera. On and on go the words of this young man who stated he has perfect knowledge (36:4)
Lest we be too unfair to Elihu he does make some great observations. He sees the power of Almighty God in nature and makes note of how it rocks mankind’s world. Sad to say that I believe we have lost some that in our day and time. Not that God’s power isn’t still turning the plans and schemes of man upside down; it’s just that so often we have forgotten to drop to our knees and say, “We remember you O Lord!” After all to do so would make us ignorant of how earthquakes and storm systems work, right? May we never forget that the power that moves us to the basement and interior room of our homes; the power that “gets our prayer life caught up,” is only a fraction of His might. We remember you, O Lord!!!
Speaking of YHWH God…. Wait for it… Wait for it… “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind…” (Job 38:1) The silence is over!!! Job was absolutely right; our Redeemer lives!!
God answers Job in “personal power.” Out of a whirlwind He speaks directly to the man. Many questions have been asked thus far. Now the Lord of all has some questions for Job. “Job… you’ve gone on about the day you were born?” “Were you there when the universe was born?” How’s that for perspective?
I am not going to comment very much more on chapter 38. I want you, the reader of this blog, to go back to chapter 38 and let it be personal. How many times have you doubted God’s plan for you? Remember the time that, in your heart of hearts, you did not feel like you could trust God with____?” I have been there as well.
Do yourself a huge favor today. Read Job 38 out loud. Go ahead… read it. At the end of ever question I want you to answer… out loud. How great it our God. He’s got the whole world in His hands; and for the record, that includes you and me.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Have you ever felt like your life was like a roller coaster? Jeremiah understands this feeling. Jeremiah 37 through 41 finds himself imprisoned, cast in a Cistern, rescued from the Cistern, eyewitness to the fall of Jerusalem, released to go wherever, and sees the death of the newly appointed leader of Judah.
When Jeremiah thinks everything is getting better, the situation gets worse. Sometimes bad things do happen to good people. Jeremiah is one such person. We are not promised that life will always go in a good way, but we are told that God will never, never, never, never, never leave us or forsake us. That is an awesome promise.
Today, be prepared for bad things to happen by being in a close walk with Jesus. He is the only one who can get us through the bad things of life. Quess what? He wants to get us through the bad things of life. Trust Him.
When Jeremiah thinks everything is getting better, the situation gets worse. Sometimes bad things do happen to good people. Jeremiah is one such person. We are not promised that life will always go in a good way, but we are told that God will never, never, never, never, never leave us or forsake us. That is an awesome promise.
Today, be prepared for bad things to happen by being in a close walk with Jesus. He is the only one who can get us through the bad things of life. Quess what? He wants to get us through the bad things of life. Trust Him.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sunday May 15, 2011
2 Corinthians 8 & 9
The Art of Giving
Today’s reading is on Paul encouraging the Corinthians to give financially to support believers in Jerusalem. He emphasized how the other churches, especially Macedonia who was poor, gave so abundantly and beyond his expectation (v.8:3-5). His desire was for the Church in Corinth to live up to the boasting he had spread about them (9:2). Paul noted that since they excelled at so many things, they needed to excel at giving. It is at this point, Paul gave basic principles to giving that we should be mindful of today.
1) (v.8:5) First give yourself to the Lord.
2) (v.8:8) Be mindful whether you are taking steps to mature in your walk with Christ.
3) (v.8:9) Imitate Christ, by making a sacrificial gift to help others.
4) (v.8:10-11, 9:5)) Fulfill your obligations to others.
5) (v.8:12-13, 9:6-8) Give eagerly but responsibly, as a willing gift.
6) (v.8:14, 9:10-11) Obedience to God never comes back void.
Throughout these chapters, Paul wanted to make clear that giving was something people are led to do by the Holy Spirit acting upon them, not because of obligation. We have an opportunity today to give financial to support missions and church growth. We also have an opportunity to give of our time and talents in church ministry. Just as well as tithing, giving your time in a ministry allows you to achieve the overall results Paul mentioned in (v. 9:13-14). You will display an eager heart to help those in need and you will show your obedience to God.
The Art of Giving
Today’s reading is on Paul encouraging the Corinthians to give financially to support believers in Jerusalem. He emphasized how the other churches, especially Macedonia who was poor, gave so abundantly and beyond his expectation (v.8:3-5). His desire was for the Church in Corinth to live up to the boasting he had spread about them (9:2). Paul noted that since they excelled at so many things, they needed to excel at giving. It is at this point, Paul gave basic principles to giving that we should be mindful of today.
1) (v.8:5) First give yourself to the Lord.
2) (v.8:8) Be mindful whether you are taking steps to mature in your walk with Christ.
3) (v.8:9) Imitate Christ, by making a sacrificial gift to help others.
4) (v.8:10-11, 9:5)) Fulfill your obligations to others.
5) (v.8:12-13, 9:6-8) Give eagerly but responsibly, as a willing gift.
6) (v.8:14, 9:10-11) Obedience to God never comes back void.
Throughout these chapters, Paul wanted to make clear that giving was something people are led to do by the Holy Spirit acting upon them, not because of obligation. We have an opportunity today to give financial to support missions and church growth. We also have an opportunity to give of our time and talents in church ministry. Just as well as tithing, giving your time in a ministry allows you to achieve the overall results Paul mentioned in (v. 9:13-14). You will display an eager heart to help those in need and you will show your obedience to God.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
God told Jeremiah in chapter 32 to buy a field outside Jerusalem. The city had been under siege for a year, and Jeremiah bought land that the soldiers occupied -- certainly a poor investment. In addition, Jeremiah was a prisoner in the palace. But Jeremiah was demonstrating his faith in God's promises to bring his people back and to rebuild Jerusalem.
Trust doesn't come easy. It wasn't easy for Jeremiah to publicly buy land already captured by the enemy. But he trusted God. It wasn't easy for David to believe he would become king, even after he was anointed. But he trusted God (1 Samuel 16-31). It wasn't easy for Moses to believe that he and his people would escape Egypt, even after God spoke to him from a burning bush. But he trusted God (Exodus 3 - 4). It isn't easy for us to believe God can fulfill his "impossible" promises either, but we must trust him. God, who worked in the lives of Biblical heroes, will work in our lives too, if we will let him.
Jeremiah 33:15-16 refers to both the first and second coming of Christ. At his first coming he would set up his reign in the hearts of believers; at his second coming he would execute justice and righteousness throughout the whole earth. He is coming again. This is another reason for us to trust him.
Jeremiah 34 describes the fulfillment of many of Jeremiah's predictions. The people of Israel had a hard time keeping their promises to God. In the temple, they would solemnly promise to obey God, but back in their homes and at work they wouldn't do it. God expressed his great displeasure. If you want to please God, make sure you keep your promises. God wants promises lived out, not just piously made.
God told Jeremiah in chapter 36 to write his words on a scroll. Because he was not allowed to go to the temple, Jeremiah asked his scribe, Baruch, to whom he had dictated the scroll to read it to the people gathered there. Baruch then read it to the officials, and finally Jehudi read it to the kimg. Although the king burned the scroll, he could not destroy the word of God. Today many people try to put God's Word aside or say that it contains errors and therefore cannot be trusted. People may reject God's Word, but they cannot destroy it. God's Word will stand forever (Psalm 119:89). We should never forget this truth. This is another reason we can trust God. May you trust him today in whatever you face.
Trust doesn't come easy. It wasn't easy for Jeremiah to publicly buy land already captured by the enemy. But he trusted God. It wasn't easy for David to believe he would become king, even after he was anointed. But he trusted God (1 Samuel 16-31). It wasn't easy for Moses to believe that he and his people would escape Egypt, even after God spoke to him from a burning bush. But he trusted God (Exodus 3 - 4). It isn't easy for us to believe God can fulfill his "impossible" promises either, but we must trust him. God, who worked in the lives of Biblical heroes, will work in our lives too, if we will let him.
Jeremiah 33:15-16 refers to both the first and second coming of Christ. At his first coming he would set up his reign in the hearts of believers; at his second coming he would execute justice and righteousness throughout the whole earth. He is coming again. This is another reason for us to trust him.
Jeremiah 34 describes the fulfillment of many of Jeremiah's predictions. The people of Israel had a hard time keeping their promises to God. In the temple, they would solemnly promise to obey God, but back in their homes and at work they wouldn't do it. God expressed his great displeasure. If you want to please God, make sure you keep your promises. God wants promises lived out, not just piously made.
God told Jeremiah in chapter 36 to write his words on a scroll. Because he was not allowed to go to the temple, Jeremiah asked his scribe, Baruch, to whom he had dictated the scroll to read it to the people gathered there. Baruch then read it to the officials, and finally Jehudi read it to the kimg. Although the king burned the scroll, he could not destroy the word of God. Today many people try to put God's Word aside or say that it contains errors and therefore cannot be trusted. People may reject God's Word, but they cannot destroy it. God's Word will stand forever (Psalm 119:89). We should never forget this truth. This is another reason we can trust God. May you trust him today in whatever you face.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)