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I began reading Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia, known as The Epistle to The Galatians. It is not a very long letter, but contains some important teachings from the Apostle to the believers in those churches. Here now, are my reflections and thoughts on this first chapter:
Paul shares first how he came to be an evangelist for the Lord Jesus Christ. He states openly that he was not sent nor called by men or by a man, but by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and by God the Father. So serious was the tone of this letter, he dispenses with the usual greeting of thanksgiving and begins admonishing these believers for so easily abandoning the true gospel. Paul believes there can be no other gospel, except the one he preaches. What he has heard about these believers is that they are listening to and being perverted by another gospel. Twice he says that those who preach and teach such a gospel are eternally condemned. He does not want there to be any doubt as to where he stands to this gospel being taught.
Paul sees his work as that being necessary to please and serve God, and not humanity; one cannot be a servant of the church if One is a people-pleaser.
The only gospel that should be taught is the one Paul received directly from Jesus Christ; and this after his having been a prosecutor of the faith. Paul does not deny that he was a zealous person seeking to gratify the traditions of his fathers, yet it was God who set him apart for this work, calling him by grace, to preach and teach the truth about Jesus Christ. Paul further adds that after receiving this new faith he did not seek the teaching of the disciples in Jerusalem, but instead went to Arabia and Damascus, returning after three years to Jerusalem where he met Peter and James, the brother of Jesus. There and wherever he went, he was known as "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And this caused many people to praise God for the turnaround that occurred in his life.
GO AND GROW PRAYER: God of power and might, Creator of all things, through Your resurrection power you can, and do, make all things new, even old hardened hearts. Turn my heart towards You, and make it new, so that I too, may be among those transformed and witnesses that have seen You at work in so many ways. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
