Galatians 1: 11-16 - I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not
receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by
revelation from Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my previous way
of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews
of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach
him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,
Paul was concerned for his friends…his church that he
loved. He saw them seeking favor because
of the laws they followed…he saw them trying to earn power from the rules they
obeyed. He had been where they were….he
was one of them. He kept the laws better
than anyone…and even went to great lengths to punish those who failed to follow
the many laws that man had made more important than the God who gave them to
Moses.
Paul’s testimony was his power. He simply states here…the condition God found
him in…the way he spoke directly to his sin…and what God required him to do
once he believed. His power came from
God….his power came from the one who knocked him to the ground…blinded him…and
gave him time to pray to the father…to repent…to allow his mind to accept the
truth of the gospel….but the message came from Jesus himself! Acts 9: 4-5
says, “ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am
Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into
the city, and you will be told what you must do."
We all have a message…if we believe in Christ. We all have a story of how God found us …deep
in sin….how he got our attention…spoke to our heart…and then changed us. Our
hope does not come from any man…it comes from the father who saved us…who spoke
to our soul…who loved us enough to die on that cross and sacrifice himself to
save us all. That message…when spoken to others is power ….God’s power to share
his love with others….to go….to be his vessels in a world that seeks for love
in man.
Father...I thank you anew this morning for the love you
showed me that day that I was 14. My Damascus road was not as dramatic…yet you
spoke to me softly that day…you convinced me to believe in you and I am so
thankful to you for that. Forgive me Lord for all the years I sought to please
people…for the years I searched here on Earth for contentment and peace…and
forgot that day I told you I loved you and would serve you no mater what. Thank you for allowing me to read this
passage….this morning…and reminding me that you have placed me here in this
time and season to work for you…to please only you…to love you more than I even
love myself. Amen.
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