WORD From The Woods
Galatians 1:11-24
“For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.”
Paul says in this passage that the gospel he is now preaching is not something that he came up with or learned from any other man but it is the gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel was given to him in an encounter with Christ Himself, on the road to Damascus (Acts ch. 9). Paul goes on to tell the Galatians that this gospel had changed him from one who was a zealous and violent persecutor of the Christ followers, to a man who may well have been the most hard working Christian that has ever walked the earth! As Paul puts it, Christ, by His grace, was pleased to call even a sinner like Paul to salvation! I think we need to look closely at Paul's former life as a Pharisee. He says in this passage that he was zealous for the traditions of his fathers. How many times do we let tradition get in the way of the gospel? Do we ever sacrifice true worship for tradition? I think if we would examine our hearts closely we would see all kind of ways that tradition has infected (and I don't just mean affected, but infected) the way we worship and serve The Lord! Paul goes on to say that people were hearing about his dramatic conversion even before he had a chance to tell them himself. The work of Christ in his life was so powerful that his testimony was spreading like wildfire! We need to do the same as Paul and let the world know about the work of redemption that Christ has done in our life!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-
Galatians 1:11-24
“For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.”
Paul says in this passage that the gospel he is now preaching is not something that he came up with or learned from any other man but it is the gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel was given to him in an encounter with Christ Himself, on the road to Damascus (Acts ch. 9). Paul goes on to tell the Galatians that this gospel had changed him from one who was a zealous and violent persecutor of the Christ followers, to a man who may well have been the most hard working Christian that has ever walked the earth! As Paul puts it, Christ, by His grace, was pleased to call even a sinner like Paul to salvation! I think we need to look closely at Paul's former life as a Pharisee. He says in this passage that he was zealous for the traditions of his fathers. How many times do we let tradition get in the way of the gospel? Do we ever sacrifice true worship for tradition? I think if we would examine our hearts closely we would see all kind of ways that tradition has infected (and I don't just mean affected, but infected) the way we worship and serve The Lord! Paul goes on to say that people were hearing about his dramatic conversion even before he had a chance to tell them himself. The work of Christ in his life was so powerful that his testimony was spreading like wildfire! We need to do the same as Paul and let the world know about the work of redemption that Christ has done in our life!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-