But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!  As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:8-9)

There are very few things for which the Bible advocates eternal condemnation.

This would be one of them.

That ought to give us a clue into just how seriously the Lord takes his plan of salvation.  Think about it.  He paid the highest possible price for you.  Why would he tolerate anybody trying to change the terms?  It’s like agreeing to purchase a home for several million dollars, and then having the agent tack an extra nickel onto the price. 

Actually, it’s not like that at all, but I think you can see where I’m going.  

How could anything we do add anything significant to what God has already done?  The Lord of the Universe gave his Son for you, and you’re going to…what…give a homeless person a sandwich and call yourself an equal partner?  I think not.

Beloved, we should do good things.  But they should come as a result of the great love that we have already received, not with the expectation that we are somehow wooing and winning God’s favor.  If anybody tries to tell you otherwise, you should make like a bakery truck and haul buns.

Please don’t tell my wife or my daughter about that last line.  They’ll disown me.  

Happy Thursday, Beloved

Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:7).

The people Paul was referring to were called the Judaizers.  They thought that all Christians should follow the Law–basically the rules and rituals observed in Old Testament-style temple worship.  (Yes, I know they didn’t call it the Old Testament, but we do, so hush.)

Anyway, they were basically telling the Galatians that Jesus’ death was not enough.  According to the Judaizers, the Galatians needed to follow the OT rules to obtain and maintain their relationship with God.  The moment they said this, of course, the Judaizers threw grace out the window and reduced Christianity to yet another “Work your way to God” religion.

Paul called that perversion.

Did you think of any “haftas” yesterday?  Take them into your prayer time today.  Ask God to show you whether you are attempting to put your efforts on the level of his grace.  It may not even be on purpose.  There can be a fine line between working to earn his love and working out of the love that already overflows.

So, you know, think about it, pray about it…but don’t stress about it.  That’s just you trying to control things again.

You are adored, Beloved.

Happy Tuesday

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–which is really no gospel at all (Galatians 1:6-7).

If you’re not super familiar with the book of Galatians, it might help to have a smidge of background here.  The church in Galatia had a number of believers who were not of Jewish descent, and so really knew nothing of the Law.  They just grabbed hold of this Gospel of love  and grace and repentance and forgiveness of sins and they ran with it.  But…the church also had a number of former Jews, who still clung to aspects of the Law and were pushing the Gentile believers to abide by it.  The situation was, in theological terms, a sticky mess.

Enter Paul, who writes a letter that we read, oh, a couple thousand years later.

And which is still relevant.

So, as we dive in here, there’s a question to ask yourself:  What do you add to the Gospel?  Don’t be too quick to answer, there.  Think about it for a while; let it roll around in the old noggin.  What “haftas” have you made part of your relationship with Christ?  We all have them.  They creep in around the edges and muddy our faith.  So, what are yours?  See if you can identify them.  It might make the next days easier

or harder

but definitely more productive.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen. (Galatians 1:4-5)

God’s will,

God’s plan,

God’s intention for you, from the beginning of time, was to be 

rescued and

protected and

forgiven and

cleansed and

sanctified and

glorified and

loved and

loved and

loved and

filled

with

joy.

Yes, I am speaking to you, Beloved.

So start your week with that.

Happy Monday

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age… (Galatians 1:4).

I have huge admiration for the soldier, the cop, the firefighter, for their willingness to stand between us and the danger that threatens.  When disaster strikes, you will find these brave men and women running toward the danger while everyone else is running away.  The thing that amazes me is that these people get up and go to work every day, knowing that there’s a chance they might not make it home that night.

It’s similar to being a middle-school teacher, though perhaps not quite as dangerous.

Consider then Christ Jesus, the ultimate rescuer.  He came to Earth, not with the chance that he might die, but with the full knowledge that he would die.  It was all part of the plan.  Remember, Beloved–he knew what was awaiting him here.  He knew.

He came anyway.

For you

Remember that as you go into battle today.

Happy Friday Beloved.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins… (Galatians 1:3)

He gave himself.

Don’t let that idea get by you too quickly.

Soak in it.

Ponder it.

Meditate on it.

Pray through it.

He could have given anything.

He chose to give everything.

For you

So weep, and rejoice, and stride into your day, oh Beloved of Christ.

Happy Thursday

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ… (Galatians 1:3)

Without grace, there is no peace.

Seriously…why would there be?

Without grace you are dead in the water…and dead in your sins.

Without grace, you get what you deserve:

pain

emptiness 

darkness 

loneliness

eternity apart from love. 

But…

you are not without grace, are you?

It flows over you, in you, through you.

You don’t deserve it, but that’s kinda the point, is it not?

You have found favor with God.

You are healed

and filled

and whole.

So…walk in grace today, Beloved.

Know his peace.

Happy Wednesday.

Paul, an apostle–sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead–and all the brothers with me, to the churches in Galatia (Galatians 1:1-2).

So, Paul was an apostle

and you’re not.

I get that.

Still, Paul was sent by God to do the work God had set out for him to do.  Knowing he was on a mission for Christ gave Paul the strength and confidence to face the darkness and difficulty that came against him,

of  which there was much.

You, Beloved, have also been sent by God to do a job.  You have a mission.  You move into this day with the authority and the power to accomplish the task he has given you.

What’s that?  You don’t know what he wants of you today?  Sure you do.
Do justice in an unjust world.

Love mercy in a pitiless world.

Walk humbly through a prideful world.

Start with those basics, and details will be made plain to you as the day develops.

Now, go make your Daddy proud.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.