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Day 3

Lisa Scheffler, author

How easily are you influenced?

A few months ago, my husband, who loves to grill on his Big Green Egg, began watching YouTube videos that explained different barbecue techniques. Shortly after that, packages began showing up with new gadgets and gizmos, and spices and rubs that were “must haves.” Apparently, these online pit masters often have sponsorship deals.

One day as he opened the door to pick up another box that had been delivered to our front step, we both laughed, he shook his head and said, “I’m discovering that I’m highly susceptible to advertising.” Although I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the food he’s been grilling with the help of these new products, he wasn’t wrong. Maybe the package deliveries will slow down after this revelation.

If we’re honest, we could probably all find areas where we are easily influenced, but hopefully not in ways that move us away from truth that really matters. The Galatian Christians had allowed themselves to be influenced by missionaries proclaiming a different gospel. In today’s passage, we’ll see how Paul uses his own story to convince them that they have been misled.

Read

Galatians 1:13-20

13 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. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.

What parts from his past is Paul emphasizing? Why do you think that is?

 

Reflect

It’s not hard to imagine a young Paul hearing the stories of the mighty prophets like Elijah or of heroes of Jewish history like the Maccabees and imagining himself becoming like them. They were strong, brave, and bold — willing to stand up for God’s truth and fight zealously for God’s honor. And for a while, that’s exactly what Paul thought he had grown up to be. He was a Pharisee, one of the religious elites who strictly followed God’s law and sought to keep the Jewish nation pure from pagan influences and false Messiahs.

Of course the problem with being strong, brave, and bold is that you can exercise those traits for the wrong cause. And that’s exactly what Paul did. Wishing to cleanse the nation from the dishonorable and blasphemous idea that the Messiah could be a crucified carpenter from Nazareth, Paul viciously persecuted the early church. Then God intervened.

Paul (called Saul) was traveling on the road to Damascus where he had planned to seize any Christians he found and take them as prisoners to Jerusalem (take a moment to read the whole story in Acts 9:1–9). That was strong, brave, and bold, right? But before he got there a light from heaven knocked him off his feet and he heard the voice of Jesus — the true Messiah. God’s Son was revealed in him (verse 16). According to Paul, his calling was an act of grace (verse 15) — a pure gift from a good and loving God who transformed Saul the persecutor into Paul the Apostle.

Everything changed for Paul. He realized that the purpose God had for him was nothing he could have imagined. He was to preach the Jewish Messiah to pagan Gentiles. He would not use his strength to stone heretics, nor would his boldness and bravery be backed up by the power or authority of the religious establishment. The Holy Spirit would empower and direct him to be strong, brave, and bold to do the true work of God — spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to the nations of the world. Paul became an itinerant teacher who went from town to town proclaiming that Jesus was the good and loving Lord who died for sins, conquered death and was bringing people together into one family. And for all the hardship, his life couldn’t have been more satisfying.

After his encounter with the resurrected Jesus, we can imagine that Paul needed time to work this out, to hear from God, and under the guidance of the Spirit, rethink everything he’d learned from the scriptures in light of this new revelation. According to verse 16 he went to Arabia. The exact place and timeline have been lost to history, but we do know that it was important to Paul that the Galatians know he hadn’t gone to Jerusalem. Why? Because Paul is stressing his independence from human leaders and his dependence on God. If anyone’s gospel came from men, it was his opponents. Paul’s came directly from God himself.

Paul eventually does go to meet with Cephas (Peter) and Jesus’ brother James. Both of these men were significant leaders of the early church, and their acceptance of Paul as a brother in Christ, and their acknowledgement that his mission to the Gentiles was of God were important. But neither of these great men, who’d lived alongside Jesus during his earthly life, sought to alter Paul’s gospel. Because it was the gospel.

The Galatian Christians had allowed themselves to be influenced by the wrong people. Paul’s dramatic conversion from religious elite to slave for Christ emphasized why. Paul had given up things the world thought were important — status, strength, position, respect — to help people find and follow Christ. That made him someone the Galatians could trust.

Respond

How did you meet Jesus? As you think about your story, thank God for revealing himself to you. He saved you! Take time to praise him today. Then tell someone your story — a friend, your child, your spouse, someone in your small group. Then ask them about their story. Have a meaningful conversation. Rejoice together over the grace-gift God has given you.

If you haven’t put your faith in Jesus, let today be the day you later tell people about! Talk to him right now, confess your need for him, and commit yourself to following Jesus. Tell a Christian friend about your decision, and let them help you with your next steps.  

      About the Engage God DailY

      Jesus invites us to know him personally and engage with him daily. Through daily Bible reading and prayer, we can grow in our relationship with him. The Engage God Daily is a daily resource designed to help you better understand the Bible and take you deeper into the concepts taught on Sunday mornings.

      Use this guide to prepare for next Sunday’s teaching. Each day presents a reading, Scripture, and a prayer to help grow in your walk with Christ this week. 

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