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.  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 the ideas of love and repentance and forgiveness of sins and they ran with them.  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 Jesus?  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 Monday, Beloved.