October 18, 2016

Galatians 1: 6-10  

I remember the day it clicked!  I realized the difference between desert and dessert in my third grade class.  From then on I wanted the double ‘s’ and not so much the single.

As I continue in this first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, I’m struck with the desertion from the faith.  The Christians in Galatia deserted the Holy Spirit who called them through the gospel into faith.  They deserted the Truth and listened to the voices of those who offered a twisted, distorted version where the works of man were required for salvation.

Immediately Paul speaks boldly in his letter.  He wastes no time getting to the point (v.4).  He doesn’t offer up any words of thanksgiving for these Galatians but called them on the carpet about their desertion from the pure Grace of God through Christ’s complete work at the cross.

Paul has powerful, direct, confrontational message for anyone, including an angel, who might come and preach a distorted version of the truth (v. 8-9).  Paul recognizes the confusion these Galatians are in.  Mixed messages can really mess with one’s heart and mind.

My, how true today!  There are plenty of mixed messages regarding God.  What He is like…(or what she is like) … What He does/doesn’t do…Is there a heaven/hell…does our living even matter…and so on.  The Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Roman Catholics, Baptists and Lutherans, have numerous differences, not to mention the Muslims, Jews, and Hindus!

Mixed messages come in all areas of life.  But there is a particular Truth that we won’t want to desert.  That particular Truth is Jesus, the Son of God, who has come, not to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:17).  Jesus has fully and completely taken care of the Father’s requirements for salvation.  Salvation is now given fully and freely to all who believe.  This is God’s grace.

We are indeed saved by His grace…Oh, amazing grace, how SWEET the sound!  Ahhh, that grace is sweet indeed.  As sweet as . . . dessert!  Take bite of that sweetness today and rejoice in it!  No calories is a plus!  Yes, the double ‘s’ is far better!  (I’m surprised the word heaven doesn’t have two ‘s’ in it!  Oh, sweet victory!)

PRAYER:  Father in Heaven, keep Your saving Truth fully in my heart and mind so that I’m not deceived by the mixed messages found in the world.  Amen.