Galatians 2:11-14
English Standard Version (ESV)
One of the hardest things that we deal with is when people or organizations don't have integrity between what they say and what they do. We can maybe handle it if there's discrepancy in a little thing once or twice, but that starts to erode trust, and the larger the discrepancy gets, the harder it is for anyone to trust us again.
The church has this problem -- the church will show up in public scandals, where something that was kept under the rug for decades will suddenly be exposed in the light, and suddenly there are thousands who can no longer trust the church. While it would certainly be better if the church never dealt with some things, the reality is that the church is made up of people, and people are broken and often do thoughtless and hurtful things. What the church needs to do in these situations is publicly repent and admit that it's dealing with some hard things.
The church needs to do this on the big things, and we as church members need to do it on the smaller scale as well. This doesn't make people turn from us -- what it instead does is make us more attractive, because people outside the church see the people inside the church as real people, struggling with everyday life issues, trying hard to be perfect but failing most days, relying on the grace that covers us. I'll admit that I struggle putting God first in my time and in my finances -- I deal with greed issues, as I want more. That stems from how I have a hard time trusting God to provide -- I try and do it on my own, unable or unwilling to completely fall into the perfect and reliable arms of God.
I'm not perfect, and yet there is a place in the church for me and the rest of the imperfect people in this world. God's grace and mercy, what Jesus Christ did on the cross, is what makes us acceptable before the throne. God loves us and comes to us as we are, in all our imperfections, and comforts us, encouraging us, calling us forward to grow in faith.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Monday, February 11, 2019
Galatians 2:1-10
Galatians 2:1-10
English Standard Version (ESV)
So I was driving home yesterday in a snowstorm, and all of a sudden, my right wiper blade snapped in half at the base and I couldn't use my wipers anymore, as the metal head would have scratched my windshield. Driving in the snow without wipers is... an adventure. But I hadn't replaced that wiper blade for years, as I don't look through that side of the windshield to drive. I neglected it, and after a while, it broke and caused problems larger than expected!
Conflict in the church isn't all that different. We often neglect it for years, allow issues to fester. We ignore it to the point that we forget about it, and all of a sudden it bursts out of nowhere, and issues we had ignored suddenly cause great stress and trouble in the body of Christ if we don't know how to deal well with it.
Here in Galatians, Paul and a number of other Christian leaders get together to talk about how to deal with proclaiming Christ to the uncircumcised. They're debating what kind of conditions should be added to church membership -- is belief in Christ enough, or is there more? And it had been 14 years, so clearly this was a long time coming.
What's wonderful is the way it was handled. They came together and when they realized God was at work, they offered blessing to their fellow Christians and sent them out to serve.
May we be as gracious when we disagree in the church. May we look for how Christ is at work, remembering that there is often much about God's work that we don't understand, and may we offer blessing as others go out to serve.
English Standard Version (ESV)
So I was driving home yesterday in a snowstorm, and all of a sudden, my right wiper blade snapped in half at the base and I couldn't use my wipers anymore, as the metal head would have scratched my windshield. Driving in the snow without wipers is... an adventure. But I hadn't replaced that wiper blade for years, as I don't look through that side of the windshield to drive. I neglected it, and after a while, it broke and caused problems larger than expected!
Conflict in the church isn't all that different. We often neglect it for years, allow issues to fester. We ignore it to the point that we forget about it, and all of a sudden it bursts out of nowhere, and issues we had ignored suddenly cause great stress and trouble in the body of Christ if we don't know how to deal well with it.
Here in Galatians, Paul and a number of other Christian leaders get together to talk about how to deal with proclaiming Christ to the uncircumcised. They're debating what kind of conditions should be added to church membership -- is belief in Christ enough, or is there more? And it had been 14 years, so clearly this was a long time coming.
What's wonderful is the way it was handled. They came together and when they realized God was at work, they offered blessing to their fellow Christians and sent them out to serve.
May we be as gracious when we disagree in the church. May we look for how Christ is at work, remembering that there is often much about God's work that we don't understand, and may we offer blessing as others go out to serve.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Galatians 1:18-24
Galatians 1:18-24
English Standard Version (ESV)
I like to think that I've done a good job of encouraging people to try my favorite restaurants. But recommending a restaurant can be a nervous thing -- what if they don't like it? Even worse, what if they get sick? I'd feel personally responsible, as though it was my fault that they tried something new based on my recommendation and it didn't work out. (Yes, I take things too personally. It's a problem. I know.) So I always am a little nervous when I send someone to a place I've enjoyed a good meal -- But I'll still readily recommend my favorite places, because I want to share them.
That's what Christianity is like as well. We should want to share this, because we've been given an amazing treasure! Paul's life and preaching gives wonder to others -- and in what is simply an amazing sentence, they glorify God because of Paul! He points others to the cross, and they find their way to God!
Now, I'm sure that everyone's experience wasn't perfect. Paul didn't promise them a life of ease and wealth. No, he promised them something greater -- peace that is unobtainable anywhere else, and a deeper joy than any material thing can provide. He promised riches, but that doesn't necessarily mean money! Life wouldn't be easy, and it wouldn't be clean, but the rewards are well worth any sacrifice. Paul's life is a testament to hardship, but also to the surpassing glory of the heavenly kingdom that pulls us onward in faithfulness.
May others see our lives and give glory to God!
English Standard Version (ESV)
I like to think that I've done a good job of encouraging people to try my favorite restaurants. But recommending a restaurant can be a nervous thing -- what if they don't like it? Even worse, what if they get sick? I'd feel personally responsible, as though it was my fault that they tried something new based on my recommendation and it didn't work out. (Yes, I take things too personally. It's a problem. I know.) So I always am a little nervous when I send someone to a place I've enjoyed a good meal -- But I'll still readily recommend my favorite places, because I want to share them.
That's what Christianity is like as well. We should want to share this, because we've been given an amazing treasure! Paul's life and preaching gives wonder to others -- and in what is simply an amazing sentence, they glorify God because of Paul! He points others to the cross, and they find their way to God!
Now, I'm sure that everyone's experience wasn't perfect. Paul didn't promise them a life of ease and wealth. No, he promised them something greater -- peace that is unobtainable anywhere else, and a deeper joy than any material thing can provide. He promised riches, but that doesn't necessarily mean money! Life wouldn't be easy, and it wouldn't be clean, but the rewards are well worth any sacrifice. Paul's life is a testament to hardship, but also to the surpassing glory of the heavenly kingdom that pulls us onward in faithfulness.
May others see our lives and give glory to God!
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Galatians 1:11-17
Galatians 1:11-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
A few important things to point out here. First, Paul talks about how he received his faith. It wasn't something he achieved or something he figured out. He didn't advance far in a certain class and become qualified for Christianity 101. No, Paul was lost and on the wrong road, persecuted the church when he received his faith. Christianity is not about who you are and what you've figured out along the way -- it's about what God has done in Christ.
Second, notice how Paul's zeal is for the wrong thing -- he's zealous for his father's traditions, but not for his faith, and not for God. As a member of the throng that just watched the Super Bowl, it's always interesting to think about the passion that the country can find for football, but that is so often placed for sports. Someone much smarter than I talked about how if an alien came to this planet, they'd assume that Saturdays were for worship based on the passion the crowds have for the games. Maybe your zeal isn't for football, but take a moment and think about the last 5 things you were really excited about. Now, don't think for a second that it's bad to get excited about things other than the church. It's great that we get to be a part of a wonderful world where we have amazing things! But let's make sure we're still putting God first and thanking God for the opportunity to enjoy a great meal or a beautiful park or a football game -- those things don't have to interfere with our worship of God.
Finally, note that Paul takes the time to say that God set him apart before Paul was born. The same is true of you -- God made you, and God knew you completely before you were born. That means that God knew about the mistakes you were going to make and the highs and lows, and God still made you and claimed you and redeems you from the pit. There is nowhere you can go that God is not already there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
A few important things to point out here. First, Paul talks about how he received his faith. It wasn't something he achieved or something he figured out. He didn't advance far in a certain class and become qualified for Christianity 101. No, Paul was lost and on the wrong road, persecuted the church when he received his faith. Christianity is not about who you are and what you've figured out along the way -- it's about what God has done in Christ.
Second, notice how Paul's zeal is for the wrong thing -- he's zealous for his father's traditions, but not for his faith, and not for God. As a member of the throng that just watched the Super Bowl, it's always interesting to think about the passion that the country can find for football, but that is so often placed for sports. Someone much smarter than I talked about how if an alien came to this planet, they'd assume that Saturdays were for worship based on the passion the crowds have for the games. Maybe your zeal isn't for football, but take a moment and think about the last 5 things you were really excited about. Now, don't think for a second that it's bad to get excited about things other than the church. It's great that we get to be a part of a wonderful world where we have amazing things! But let's make sure we're still putting God first and thanking God for the opportunity to enjoy a great meal or a beautiful park or a football game -- those things don't have to interfere with our worship of God.
Finally, note that Paul takes the time to say that God set him apart before Paul was born. The same is true of you -- God made you, and God knew you completely before you were born. That means that God knew about the mistakes you were going to make and the highs and lows, and God still made you and claimed you and redeems you from the pit. There is nowhere you can go that God is not already there.
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