Have you Ever?

The sixth time reading through this, which is not counting the numerous times I've read it before, I stumbled across something I never noticed. It really helps me better understand the need to constantly be in the word. So without further ado here is what I discovered.

Galatians 6:7
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked."

My husbands version reads that "God's justice cannot be mocked." Wow! No matter how hard those of the world may try to mock God's character it isn't possible. Why is that? Well the verse continues on to talk about how we "reap what we sow". If we have hatred in our hearts towards the one true God it will be brought to light when the time comes to give an accounting for our lives. Maybe this verse isn't saying that people are not able to mock God but simply that if we do mock God we will take on the eternal consequences of doing so. We cannot mock God and with the same tongue declare a personal relationship. We can't have it both ways. Paul knows this very well. When Paul was mocking Christ he was mocking the very character of God. Paul was called to answer for his behavior. When confronted with the truth he chose to accept God's call on his life. Each of us is presented with this decision in our lives. How we respond to it makes an eternal difference. Do we continue mocking God and casting him aside with eternal damnation on the line or do we accept a call that leads to eternal salvation?

Stop fighting or I'll turn this car around

It really is amazing just how little things have changed in 200o years or so. The letter to the Galatians is written because of a disagreement in the church. There are the folks who are holding tight to every single law that was in place before Christ and those that never really knew anything about those laws. The one group is saying that the law still needs to be followed. Things need to stay the same way. Does this sound familiar? I've sure seen it in the current day church. "We can't have drums. There weren't drums when I was growing up in the church." "The pastor really should wear a three piece suit. Jeans are sacreligous." I know that we've all heard things like that. Paul writes to these folks to tell them to stop fighting over such inconsequential stuff. The huge issue seems to be circumcision. Paul tells these folks that it doesn't matter. Jesus was the fulfillment of the nitty gritty part of the law. Let's move on to more important issues Paul is saying. Let's make sure that the truth is taught and not tainted by meaningless bickering. Boy can we all learn from Paul's words to the Galatians. We need to focus less on the little things and focus more on the correct and truthful teaching of the word. After all, the Bible never told us we couldn't have drums.

Walking with Paul

It's been awhile here but now I'm getting back to this thing. While listening the the radio, my husband heard a really great idea. Basically you read the same part of the Bible for three or four weeks. It really helps commit the bible to memory. So both of us are starting with the book of Galatians. It is six chapters and a great start. So I'll be spending time reflecting on the book of Galatians over the next few weeks.
I first want to start with a general reflection on the life of Paul. For anyone who doesn't know, Paul was a leader in the Jewish community. He was a very righteous, law loving guy. He was moving up in rank among the Jews faster than most men his age. He absolutely hated those who were following Christ. But then, he was stopped in his tracks and turned completely around. How completely? This to me is mind blowing. He not only accepted Christ but he was sent out to witness to the people that he would have detested the most, the gentiles. His calling was to be a missionary to the gentiles! Why not to the Jews by whom he was respected? Why not witness to the people he knew and loved? Instead God called him as far out of his comfort zone as possible. He not only answered that calling but he embraced the calling. He cast off the burden of the laws he had so fully embraced and instead carried a burden of love for a people that were viewed as lower than low.
When reading the bible it would be very easy to think of Paul as a righteous, almost perfect man. It would be easy to think that he never questioned the call given to him. Before he went out to be a missionary though he spent a good bit of time in seclusion seeking the knowledge and wisdom of God. I can't help but think that during that time, and probably many times after, that Paul questioned what he was called to do. He probably had that Jonah experience, wanting to jump off the boat and swim as far away as possible. The difference between Jonah and Paul is significant. Jonah went begrudgingly to Ninevah. Paul went willingly to the gentiles. He loved them.
What is your calling and what is your response to God? Are you willing to give up everything you're comfortable with to follow the call of God on your life? Not everyone is going to be called to a foreign country, teaching a foreign people. We all at some point will be called to do something that we are not comfortable doing. When that time comes will your response be a Jonah response or a Paul response?