Saturday, June 1, 2024

Today's Scripture
Galatians 1:1–17

Paul an apostle — sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead — and all the members of God’s family who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!

Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. (NRSV)

Reflection

I must admit that I was not overjoyed to get this assignment. I find much of Paul’s writing difficult to understand or out of touch with the teachings of Christ. However, Paul’s words in Galatians 1:6–9 resonate with me, although not exactly as the apostle intended.

Paul warns against teachings that run counter to what Paul himself has proclaimed. That misses the mark in my book. The gold standard is what Jesus said and did during his time on earth in human form. The adage “What would Jesus do?” (WWJD) may be found on a bumper sticker, but it is still very cogent.

All around us every day we are faced with strident claims about “what is right” or how we should live and what we should do. Most, if not all, of these often-conflicting statements come with some assertion of a level of higher authority, up to and including divine authority. What’s a wondering disciple to do?

I must confess that I do not have a definitive answer to this conundrum. Using Paul’s format, my approach is to study Christ’s teachings that address the question with which I am grappling. I am not researching theology or exploring polity. It is more like I have a conversation with a friend. My experience of the divine is Jesus walking and living beside me. So that conversation is natural and would go something like this:

Here is what I understand the situation to be. Is my understanding clear and correct? Is there something somewhere in our record of your words and deeds that speaks to this situation? What other approaches are available that are authentic to your will in my life?

Finally, everything comes down to discernment, and the key is developing and authenticating a well of understanding from which proper direction can be discerned. There is nothing facile about it.

Prayer
Precious Lord, help me to find and stay true to your path for my life. Amen.

Written by Blake Anderson, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email