The Galatians had it. They preached 'Christ crucified.' They took the Lord's Supper together. They had a spiritual advantage, an opportunity not afforded to all. Something, or maybe the god of this world, steered them off the path of Christ crucified. Maybe a moral Gospel? Maybe a curved-in on themselves message. Who has bewitched you? "Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Galatians 3:3. It was a message based on a crucifixion not a charade game nor currying the favor of men. Paul was a bond-servant. No soft soap here. Oh, foolish soul of mine, what has bewitched me into thinking that I'm doing good and I'm really not. Life isn't about change in behavior, it's about change of heart. Because the behavior can never really stay stiffarmed to God and not change. We preach Christ crucified...and that changes everything.
PRAYER FROM PSALMS
Psalm 22:31 ~ "He has done it!" O God, You end this psalm with one powerful word in Hebrew meaning: it is done! Finished! Your plan completed. Our sin deleted. Your work on earth is complete. From the days of Paul to this very day, we proclaim Your Deliverance. Show us where we have moved on trying to be perfected by the flesh.
Don't know if you all saw the Sound of Music the other night (it was very similar to the movie), but there is a song in it that has the title line, "Somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good." The theme was that if Maria was so blessed to have found this guy, she must have done something to deserve it.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, we don't get what we deserve in this life. Thankfully, those of us covered by His Blood don't get what we worked for. All of it, vain. All of it leading to our own destruction. Thankfully, He knows us too well for that. Why do we get caught in trying to do it in our own strength? It's default mode for most of us.We act out of our own strength (and get puffed up or shot down by thinking we're doing anything of significance in our own power at all.) We get depleted because physically, mentally, spiritually, there isn't enough of our own strength to do the job.
That question gets right to the crux of the matter: "Having begun by the Spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Oh really, Annette?
Lord, forgive my arrogance and foolishness. Teach me to walk by faith, not by sight. Teach me to draw from You, and learn when enough is enough. Enough busyness. Enough temporary. Enough of me. And show me the wide open spaciousness of Grace. Of Faith. Of Peace.
Be with those who mourn this day, Lord, especially Chandler's family, and those who are sick and those who are cold, and those who do not know you yet. Your Grace is More than Enough to cover us and see us through.