March 21 - Galatians 4:24-27
These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written:
“Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
Can you imagine the shock that those Jews who were trying to get the Galatians to re-align their way of thinking would have at Paul’s words? Their history came down from Abraham and Sarah through Isaac. To associate Hagar and Ishmael with Jerusalem was far from anything they could imagine.
Paul didn’t want the Galatians to consider themselves Jews first and then Christians. These were Gentiles who had never been circumcised, never offered sacrifices at the temple and had never known the restrictions of the law. The Judaizers in their community wanted to bring them into some sort of structure so that they had more control over these new converts to the faith. This doesn’t mean that the Judaizers weren’t believers in Christ, it simply means that they wanted everyone to follow the Jewish faith first.
Paul and Peter had both dealt with that issue already with God and Paul didn’t want these people to go backwards in their faith. He wanted them to look forward … to look forward to the heavenly idea of Jerusalem … the new Jerusalem.
March 20 - Galatians 4:21-23
Sunday, March 20, 2011
March 20 - Galatians 4:21-23
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
Paul’s insight into the overall story of redemption is glorious, isn’t it? We have the benefit of his insights as well as many others so it may seem to us that this is overly simplistic, but how many of you would look back to the beginning of the relationship God had with the Israelites and make the comparison between slavery with the things of the flesh and freedom and a divine promise?
We come to a relationship with God by way of a divine promise. In Jeremiah 31:31 we read, “The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” God was preparing His people for a new covenant – a divine promise - which would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Jesus affirms that covenant in Matthew 26:28, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Under the old covenant … the Law was supreme. Every day it was a process to remain holy. The people were constantly aware of their inability to overcome sin. They were bound up as slaves, unable to have any freedom in their relationship to God. Corruption was too great.
Under the new covenant … freedom in Christ is supreme. He died so that we could be holy. We spend our days living within God’s grace. The payment has been made. We are able to overcome and have victory over sin because of that grace offered to us through Christ’s sacrifice.
Live as if you know that. Live in freedom – no longer bound by sin, but freedom that comes from knowing Christ paid the price and offers us grace. Live according to the divine promise.
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
Paul’s insight into the overall story of redemption is glorious, isn’t it? We have the benefit of his insights as well as many others so it may seem to us that this is overly simplistic, but how many of you would look back to the beginning of the relationship God had with the Israelites and make the comparison between slavery with the things of the flesh and freedom and a divine promise?
We come to a relationship with God by way of a divine promise. In Jeremiah 31:31 we read, “The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” God was preparing His people for a new covenant – a divine promise - which would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Jesus affirms that covenant in Matthew 26:28, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Under the old covenant … the Law was supreme. Every day it was a process to remain holy. The people were constantly aware of their inability to overcome sin. They were bound up as slaves, unable to have any freedom in their relationship to God. Corruption was too great.
Under the new covenant … freedom in Christ is supreme. He died so that we could be holy. We spend our days living within God’s grace. The payment has been made. We are able to overcome and have victory over sin because of that grace offered to us through Christ’s sacrifice.
Live as if you know that. Live in freedom – no longer bound by sin, but freedom that comes from knowing Christ paid the price and offers us grace. Live according to the divine promise.
March 19 - Galatians 4:17-20
Saturday, March 19, 2011
March 19 - Galatians 4:17-20
Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Proverbs 19:2 says, “Zeal without knowledge is not good; a person who moves too quickly may go the wrong way.”
It is said that there is nothing worse than a student in the middle of an education. They think they know everything there is to know. While this is probably true about nearly every program, it is especially true of those who are in seminary. The problem is a little bit of knowledge, a whole lot of passion and very little life experience and wisdom.
Now, at the same time those attributes are exciting because young people tend to move forward without a lot of fear. Great things can happen when that all comes together in the right way. It’s exciting for me to watch young minds explore theology in my classes. They are just opening up to the challenges of how to verbalize their faith and seminary is giving them tools with which to do that. At the same time, there are a few that should have their mouths sewn shut until they finish their education. It’s painful to watch.
When Paul’s teachings came into the lives of the Galatians, they jumped up and grabbed hold of his new teaching. But, they hadn’t grounded themselves in the knowledge that went with that faith and before long, were being corrupted by everything else that surrounded them.
Billy Graham’s ministry learned that lesson in the 70s. He was leading huge numbers of people to Christ in vast stadiums and since there was no follow up or training to help these people develop as Christians, there was no depth to their faith and soon they were back as they had been before … nothing had changed. They now partner with churches throughout the region to provide opportunities for growth and continued transformation.
Paul knows that he is going to have to start over with the Galatians. The best part of the story is that God always offers multitudes of chances for His people to come into relationship with Him. No matter how perplexed it made Paul, God made sure Paul was able to minister to the Galatians and draw them back.
Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Proverbs 19:2 says, “Zeal without knowledge is not good; a person who moves too quickly may go the wrong way.”
It is said that there is nothing worse than a student in the middle of an education. They think they know everything there is to know. While this is probably true about nearly every program, it is especially true of those who are in seminary. The problem is a little bit of knowledge, a whole lot of passion and very little life experience and wisdom.
Now, at the same time those attributes are exciting because young people tend to move forward without a lot of fear. Great things can happen when that all comes together in the right way. It’s exciting for me to watch young minds explore theology in my classes. They are just opening up to the challenges of how to verbalize their faith and seminary is giving them tools with which to do that. At the same time, there are a few that should have their mouths sewn shut until they finish their education. It’s painful to watch.
When Paul’s teachings came into the lives of the Galatians, they jumped up and grabbed hold of his new teaching. But, they hadn’t grounded themselves in the knowledge that went with that faith and before long, were being corrupted by everything else that surrounded them.
Billy Graham’s ministry learned that lesson in the 70s. He was leading huge numbers of people to Christ in vast stadiums and since there was no follow up or training to help these people develop as Christians, there was no depth to their faith and soon they were back as they had been before … nothing had changed. They now partner with churches throughout the region to provide opportunities for growth and continued transformation.
Paul knows that he is going to have to start over with the Galatians. The best part of the story is that God always offers multitudes of chances for His people to come into relationship with Him. No matter how perplexed it made Paul, God made sure Paul was able to minister to the Galatians and draw them back.
March 18 - Galatians 4:12-16
Friday, March 18, 2011
March 18 - Galatians 4:12-16
I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
This little bit of information gives us a lot of clarification of the depth of Paul’s feelings for the Galatians. The poor guy was SICK when he was with them. It upped his vulnerability and forced him to rely on them to nurse him back to health. These kind of stressful situations always create a connection between people that would not necessarily happen if he were there simply to preach and teach.
Paul’s time spent with the Galatians was difficult for him at the time. He was forced to set aside everything of himself and rely on others to take care of him. They did so with grace and love.
The intimacy of relationships that grew as people cared for him and supplied his needs would have been incredible. They truly exercised hospitality with Paul.
Now, however, when it is time for him to call them to task … they don’t want to hear from him. How painful that must have been for him. Those that he trusted when he was at his lowest want nothing to do with the teaching and admonition that he has for them.
I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
This little bit of information gives us a lot of clarification of the depth of Paul’s feelings for the Galatians. The poor guy was SICK when he was with them. It upped his vulnerability and forced him to rely on them to nurse him back to health. These kind of stressful situations always create a connection between people that would not necessarily happen if he were there simply to preach and teach.
Paul’s time spent with the Galatians was difficult for him at the time. He was forced to set aside everything of himself and rely on others to take care of him. They did so with grace and love.
The intimacy of relationships that grew as people cared for him and supplied his needs would have been incredible. They truly exercised hospitality with Paul.
Now, however, when it is time for him to call them to task … they don’t want to hear from him. How painful that must have been for him. Those that he trusted when he was at his lowest want nothing to do with the teaching and admonition that he has for them.
March 17 - Galatians 4:8-11
Thursday, March 17, 2011
March 17 - Galatians 4:8-11
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
There was nothing more difficult for me to hear than the words, “I’m disappointed in you” come out of my parent’s mouths. Mom didn’t ground me, she didn’t send me to my room (except when we were children and she desperately needed to separate the noise), she and Dad simply expressed their disappointment and it was so profound that I did everything possible to avoid doing that to them.
I can not imagine what must have happened for the Galatians to receive this type of reprimand from Paul. But it seems as if these people had turned back from worshiping God to the worship of either pagan gods that were all around them or were being influenced by the local Jewish groups to turn away from Jesus and move into bondage to the Law.
The special days and months, seasons and years echo many of the Jewish and pagan festivals. Everything from New Moon festivals to Rosh Hashanah and the year of Jubilee.
Paul is speaking to us as well. We find it just as easy to get caught up in the world around us as did the Galatians and set aside our relationship with God. Oh, it’s always there in the back of our minds, but we don’t let it bother us when we’re busy with other things.
Paul wants it to bother us. He wants to remind us that God notices when we’re too busy with the multitude of things going on around us. He cared for the Galatians enough to give them the “I’m disappointed in you” talk and if he were here today, he would care enough for each of us to do the same.
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
There was nothing more difficult for me to hear than the words, “I’m disappointed in you” come out of my parent’s mouths. Mom didn’t ground me, she didn’t send me to my room (except when we were children and she desperately needed to separate the noise), she and Dad simply expressed their disappointment and it was so profound that I did everything possible to avoid doing that to them.
I can not imagine what must have happened for the Galatians to receive this type of reprimand from Paul. But it seems as if these people had turned back from worshiping God to the worship of either pagan gods that were all around them or were being influenced by the local Jewish groups to turn away from Jesus and move into bondage to the Law.
The special days and months, seasons and years echo many of the Jewish and pagan festivals. Everything from New Moon festivals to Rosh Hashanah and the year of Jubilee.
Paul is speaking to us as well. We find it just as easy to get caught up in the world around us as did the Galatians and set aside our relationship with God. Oh, it’s always there in the back of our minds, but we don’t let it bother us when we’re busy with other things.
Paul wants it to bother us. He wants to remind us that God notices when we’re too busy with the multitude of things going on around us. He cared for the Galatians enough to give them the “I’m disappointed in you” talk and if he were here today, he would care enough for each of us to do the same.
March 16 - Galatians 4:1-7
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
March 16 - Galatians 4:1-7
What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
In Paul’s time, the difference between a minor child and a slave was not terribly great. You have to first of all understand that for the most part, slaves were treated quite well – they were part of a family (for the most part). An under-aged child was not entitled to any of the financial benefits that would come to an heir until he was of age.
Gentiles and anyone outside the nation of Jews had no belief that they could be part of the family of God … unless they became Jewish. Within the kingdom of God … there was no expectation that they were worth any more than a slave … they certainly weren’t considered heirs of the kingdom.
Look back at the previous verses. Paul clearly says that there is neither slave nor free, Jew nor Gentile, male nor female in the kingdom of God. All are considered equal in God’s eyes.
Then Paul expresses quite clearly how this works. Jesus came as a Jew. He was born and lived under the Law. He came to redeem those under the Law. But … He was also born of a woman. This was a huge issue in patriarchal Judaism. God didn’t just show up on earth riding a white horse – He blessed women by allowing the Logos … Jesus Christ … the Word of God, to be born from her. Then, when Christ died and the curtain in the Temple was ripped open, He exposed the heart of God to the entire world … Jews and Gentiles alike.
We can be adopted legally into God’s kingdom which allows us to have full rights of inheritance. He sees us as His children. We are no longer on the outside as minor children with no rights, but upon accepting Christ Jesus as our Savior, we receive the full inheritance of God’s kingdom.
What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
In Paul’s time, the difference between a minor child and a slave was not terribly great. You have to first of all understand that for the most part, slaves were treated quite well – they were part of a family (for the most part). An under-aged child was not entitled to any of the financial benefits that would come to an heir until he was of age.
Gentiles and anyone outside the nation of Jews had no belief that they could be part of the family of God … unless they became Jewish. Within the kingdom of God … there was no expectation that they were worth any more than a slave … they certainly weren’t considered heirs of the kingdom.
Look back at the previous verses. Paul clearly says that there is neither slave nor free, Jew nor Gentile, male nor female in the kingdom of God. All are considered equal in God’s eyes.
Then Paul expresses quite clearly how this works. Jesus came as a Jew. He was born and lived under the Law. He came to redeem those under the Law. But … He was also born of a woman. This was a huge issue in patriarchal Judaism. God didn’t just show up on earth riding a white horse – He blessed women by allowing the Logos … Jesus Christ … the Word of God, to be born from her. Then, when Christ died and the curtain in the Temple was ripped open, He exposed the heart of God to the entire world … Jews and Gentiles alike.
We can be adopted legally into God’s kingdom which allows us to have full rights of inheritance. He sees us as His children. We are no longer on the outside as minor children with no rights, but upon accepting Christ Jesus as our Savior, we receive the full inheritance of God’s kingdom.
March 15 - Galatians 3:26-29
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
March 15 - Galatians 3:26-29
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Am I a better Christian than you? Am I more deserving of Christ’s love and inheritance?
We are so competitive in our culture today. When I was growing up, I remember my mother always comparing herself to others … ‘am I thinner or heavier than that person’? And then as parents, mine would make sure to compare us favorably to those we were around, whether it was scholastically or musically. While this did a lot to build our self-confidence, it began a lifetime of comparison.
My father had a couple of prejudices that drove me crazy. He based a lot of his ideas on people about their education. Now, a Bachelor’s Degree would suffice, but more than that was even better. (It does not escape me that I waited until after he died to go after my Master’s Degree … no, I’m not rebellious at all … even at my age!) Fortunately for all of us, he married a woman who was absolutely brilliant, but didn’t finish her college education. She kept him humble and honest.
We live in a culture that is filled with comparisons. We compare ourselves to those who we believe are better and find ourselves lacking while at the same time, we turn around and compare ourselves to others who might not have our talents and capabilities and find that we are comfortable in a position above them.
There is one place, though, that we come to and find ourselves on equal footing, no matter what we think.
Jesus Christ came to teach us about love … for everyone. Not for the pretty or the perfect or the talented or the wealthy. In fact, he came and walked among those that had less … the broken, the weary, the lost, the hurting. He approached the worst of them all in the leper and the tax-collector and showed love. In a strong Jewish society, He reached out to the Gentiles.
Living within His love means that we are safe from those comparisons. He doesn’t care who we are and He doesn’t care what we’ve done. All He wants is the relationship that will offer us true equality … true love.
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Am I a better Christian than you? Am I more deserving of Christ’s love and inheritance?
We are so competitive in our culture today. When I was growing up, I remember my mother always comparing herself to others … ‘am I thinner or heavier than that person’? And then as parents, mine would make sure to compare us favorably to those we were around, whether it was scholastically or musically. While this did a lot to build our self-confidence, it began a lifetime of comparison.
My father had a couple of prejudices that drove me crazy. He based a lot of his ideas on people about their education. Now, a Bachelor’s Degree would suffice, but more than that was even better. (It does not escape me that I waited until after he died to go after my Master’s Degree … no, I’m not rebellious at all … even at my age!) Fortunately for all of us, he married a woman who was absolutely brilliant, but didn’t finish her college education. She kept him humble and honest.
We live in a culture that is filled with comparisons. We compare ourselves to those who we believe are better and find ourselves lacking while at the same time, we turn around and compare ourselves to others who might not have our talents and capabilities and find that we are comfortable in a position above them.
There is one place, though, that we come to and find ourselves on equal footing, no matter what we think.
Jesus Christ came to teach us about love … for everyone. Not for the pretty or the perfect or the talented or the wealthy. In fact, he came and walked among those that had less … the broken, the weary, the lost, the hurting. He approached the worst of them all in the leper and the tax-collector and showed love. In a strong Jewish society, He reached out to the Gentiles.
Living within His love means that we are safe from those comparisons. He doesn’t care who we are and He doesn’t care what we’ve done. All He wants is the relationship that will offer us true equality … true love.
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