It's easy to start things, right? When the excitement and anticipation are rushing, it's easy to knock out the early stages of a task. But what happens when that wears off? When things get tough, it becomes exceedingly easy to quit; to bail out; to give up.
Paul talks about this in Galatians 5:7
"You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom."
Paul is saying, "You guys started out so well. What happened?" I like Paul's metaphor of running, because it paints a really clear picture of what being a Christian is like. Running starts out easy, but sticking with it requires discipline, determination, and strength. The Galatians' race started out easy, but when things got tough, they quit.
People were opposing them and trying to talk them out of believing what God had revealed to them. Instead of fighting through and working through their faith, they gave up. But this message Paul brings isn't just for the Galatians. We struggle with this constantly. We decide to follow God and things are going well, but then before we know it, things begin to get tough. Maybe we're afraid of being judged, or we know that we have to change the way we live our lives; either way, we have to make a tough decision: we either stick with God, or we do life our way.
The struggle doesn't always end in us rejecting God or giving up on Him completely, but it could just be us not pursuing after Him anymore.
"For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." - Gal. 5:14
Paul is saying, "You want to know what it looks like to live this out and keep running the race? Love as you want to be loved." When you keep on running and persisting in your race, you are pursuing after God. You are doing what Paul says in v.16-17, "So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions."
To keep running the race means to be guided by the Holy Spirit. When you stop running, you take over the direction and guidance of your soul. Something is going to guide us and lead our lives.
"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" - Gal. 5:19-23
So are you running the race being led by the Holy Spirit, producing love and goodness and self-control? Or have you given up and are taking over control for yourself?
Have you stopped pursuing God? Have you stopped letting Him lead you? Have you been finding your worth in what people think of you or in what God thinks of you? Here's the good news: It's not too late to start running again. God's grace is big enough to cover up your mistakes. Your true worth lies in Christ. Keep running your race towards Him.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Free at Last: Galatians 4 Recap
slave:
/slāv/
(noun) - a person who is excessively dependent upon or controlled by something.
Galatians 4:8-9 says, "Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?"
Paul is concerned for the Galatians because they used to be slaves, but they had been set free from slavery by God. But then, all of a sudden they started going back to their old ways.
Let's break this concept of slavery down. Slavery as we know it is someone who is controlled by another person. We also think that slavery is a thing of the past. But we still have slaves today. But there are more than 30 million slaves in the world today, more than at any other point in human history. Human slavery is not a thing of the past; it is consuming our world today. Every day, men, women, and children are forced to work with little or no pay, and women and children are forced into sexual trafficking scenarios.
Like the story of Debbie, who was taken from her own driveway, with her mother in the house. She was kidnapped by two men who held tied her up and taped her mouth and eyes. The men told her that they would shoot her if she screamed or cried out.
Paul is trying to get the Galatians to understand that when we were slaves to sin, we were like Debbie, completely under the control of her captors. Our sin was like our captors; it dictated everything we did. Our sin called the shots.
But like Debbie, if we have a relationship with Jesus then we have been set free from the controlling power of sin. Imagine after Debbie was set free, do you think there was ever a time that se wanted to go back to her captors? No way. Just like there should be no reason for us to return to a life of captivity by sin.
Let's look at v.12-16:
"Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws.You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you. Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?"
It's easy to be distracted by the allure of sin, and stop focusing on God. But the first thing to do when we stop focusing on God is to take a look at our relationships. The way the Galatians treated Paul was a result of their relationship with God. It's hard to love others when we aren't loving the One who has taught us to love.
When we are enslaved by our selfish ways, we don't put others before ourselves and we don't consider the Kingdom of God before our own messed up world. Just like the anonymous letter from a restraunt employee to a youth pastor who had brought his reckless and destructive youth to her place of work. The woman had been struggling with Christianity and believing with God and after coming into contact with the inconsiderate youth group, she wanted nothing to do with the God they worshipped.
As Christians, people are watching you constantly. We are a living, breathing representation of the God we worship. When God's important to you, your actions show it.
So what are your actions showing others? Do you love God so much that everyone who comes in contact with you can see His presence in your life?
/slāv/
(noun) - a person who is excessively dependent upon or controlled by something.
Galatians 4:8-9 says, "Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?"
Paul is concerned for the Galatians because they used to be slaves, but they had been set free from slavery by God. But then, all of a sudden they started going back to their old ways.
Let's break this concept of slavery down. Slavery as we know it is someone who is controlled by another person. We also think that slavery is a thing of the past. But we still have slaves today. But there are more than 30 million slaves in the world today, more than at any other point in human history. Human slavery is not a thing of the past; it is consuming our world today. Every day, men, women, and children are forced to work with little or no pay, and women and children are forced into sexual trafficking scenarios.
Like the story of Debbie, who was taken from her own driveway, with her mother in the house. She was kidnapped by two men who held tied her up and taped her mouth and eyes. The men told her that they would shoot her if she screamed or cried out.
Paul is trying to get the Galatians to understand that when we were slaves to sin, we were like Debbie, completely under the control of her captors. Our sin was like our captors; it dictated everything we did. Our sin called the shots.
But like Debbie, if we have a relationship with Jesus then we have been set free from the controlling power of sin. Imagine after Debbie was set free, do you think there was ever a time that se wanted to go back to her captors? No way. Just like there should be no reason for us to return to a life of captivity by sin.
Let's look at v.12-16:
"Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws.You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you. Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?"
It's easy to be distracted by the allure of sin, and stop focusing on God. But the first thing to do when we stop focusing on God is to take a look at our relationships. The way the Galatians treated Paul was a result of their relationship with God. It's hard to love others when we aren't loving the One who has taught us to love.
When we are enslaved by our selfish ways, we don't put others before ourselves and we don't consider the Kingdom of God before our own messed up world. Just like the anonymous letter from a restraunt employee to a youth pastor who had brought his reckless and destructive youth to her place of work. The woman had been struggling with Christianity and believing with God and after coming into contact with the inconsiderate youth group, she wanted nothing to do with the God they worshipped.
As Christians, people are watching you constantly. We are a living, breathing representation of the God we worship. When God's important to you, your actions show it.
So what are your actions showing others? Do you love God so much that everyone who comes in contact with you can see His presence in your life?
Friday, October 7, 2011
Roller Skating Countdown: 1 day.
(even the uncoordinated are welcome.)
Roller Skating countdown: 1 day.
That's right, folks.
MSM Roller Skating trip is ONE day away.
That's tomorrow.
Make plans to join us from 6-9 @ Skaters Choice in Hendersonville. Meet at the church at 5:45; $5 entrance fee, $3 extra for roller blades.
See you tomorrow!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Roller Skating Countdown: 5 days
We will count down the days until our Skating trip with funny/awkward/random pictures of people skating. Enjoy.
The Details:
When: This Saturday, October 8th, 6-9 p.m. (Arrive a little before 6)
Where: Meet at the Student Building. We'll provide transportation from there to Skaters Choice in Hendersonville.
How much: $5
If you have your own skates, bring them! If you want roller blades, bring $3.
How much: $5
If you have your own skates, bring them! If you want roller blades, bring $3.
Galatians 3 Recap
"Deep inside me there's this burning that just won't let me go.
You are my fire, You are my righteousness, You are my rock and roll.
I wish I could fit you down inside my chest, God,
I wish that I could swallow you whole.
I'd wrap you up in a blanket of my skin and you could call my body home."
-John Mark McMillan, "I Am a Temple"
Picture it: You are my fire, You are my righteousness, You are my rock and roll.
I wish I could fit you down inside my chest, God,
I wish that I could swallow you whole.
I'd wrap you up in a blanket of my skin and you could call my body home."
-John Mark McMillan, "I Am a Temple"
Paul has just traveled through Galatia on his first missionary journey and had won people over to Christ and started a new church there. The Galatians were on fire for Christ and they got it; they understood it. But not too long after he left, some people began to teach that faith alone wasn’t enough to be saved. They believed that there had to be more to becoming a Christian than simply believing in Jesus; that just seemed too easy. These false teachers got to work at every church in Galatia, trying to get people to believe their skewed and twisted message of salvation. Paul hat to set them straight.
Gal. 3:1-3
“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?”
Paul is frustrated because the Galatians got it, they understood their salvation, they saw the picture of Christ on the cross that Paul had painted for them. But now, they had began to believe that in order to attain spiritual perfection, they had to follow all these laws. It's hard for us to understand Old Testament laws that were written 3,000 years ago. They were extensive and demanding and honestly, would be impossible for us to stick to. Because of Adam and Eve's choice to sin, to defy God, we are now inherently sinful and bad; sinning is in our nature.
So why did God require these laws in the first place? What was He thinking? Well, the reality is, the Law prepared the way for the coming of Jesus. The law was put forth so that we could recognize the truth - that we're messed up by our sins. God loves us so much that He clearly communicated to us what pleases Him and what doesn't please Him.
Paul is urging the Galatians, and us, to remember that salvation is a gift; all we have to do is accept it. Paul is saying, "Look. It's easy. All you have to do is accept it; Believe that Jesus did all the work for you and that you are immediately free. Free to be changed inside, free to live a new kind of life, and free to be welcomed into Heaven by God Himself."
So often we focus on our failures. But as it says in ch.3 v.27, "For all of you who were baptized in Christ have put on Christ." We put on Christ like new clothes. We wear Him. When God looks at us, He doesn't see us. He sees Christ. We are hidden in Him; we are completely covered by Him. In Christ, God doesn't look down on us with dissapointment, He always looks down on us and smiles. This fact doesn't give us a free ticket to sin. On the contrary, it gives us an opportunity to live a life worthy of the Gospel of Christ. It gives us an opportunity to not obey just because we feel forced to, but because we genuinely want to love and please our great God.
You are going to mess up; you're human. But when you do, don't give up. Don't stop trying. Don't just throw your hands up in the air. Recognize that Christ's sacrifice and grace has covered you and keep going. Keep pursuing after the Kingdom.
Run your race,
Bre
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