BIBLE READING: Galatians 1

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1.10)

Paul had a history. Paul was once Saul, the persecutor of the church (Acts 8.1-3). He was a prominent member in the Jewish community. It was Saul who stood in approval while Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7.58). But then Saul met Jesus, and everything changed for him (Acts 9). The persecutor now became the preacher of the faith he once tried to destroy (Galatians 1.23).

Paul’s conversation made significant waves in the Jewish community. Overnight his friends became his enemies and his enemies became skeptics, at first (Acts 9.19-31). Had it not been for Barnabas, assimilation into the church would have been a much more difficult process. But Paul willingly accepted this lot because he learned something critical: Appearances and human approval don’t make us right before God. Bearing fruit of righteousness does.

Paul’s changed life is a witness, not just to what change looks like, but about what justifies us before God. Notice this emphasis as he recounts his story: We are NOT justified by…

• Wearing the right name (Galatians 1.13, 14). Paul was a Jew and proud of it. He was in the right places with the ‘right’ people doing the ‘right’ things. But just being called a Jew didn’t justify him.  
• Being a top performer (Galatians 1.14). Paul went above and beyond most people. He was capable and using his talents. He worked harder than anyone, even after his conversation (1 Corinthians 15.10), but even that did not justify him to God.
• Zeal for traditions of men (Galatians 1.14b). Traditions have always been important to God and his people. But these processes didn’t increase his standing before God.

I’m not trying to minimize the import of working hard in our faith. Just like Paul, I want us to see that our efforts alone will always be lacking the grace and mercy needed to be justified. To find justification and peace we must shift our thinking and our trust. Paul’s life shows us that we are justified when we are…

• Going where God leads (Galatians 1.15a, 16b). His activities were now directed by God and his purposes. His think-sos were minimized because he knew his way was not best. To be justified we must let God be the leader.
• Prioritizing God’s revelation (Galatians 1.16-17). Paul immediately got away from other people of influence to consider the truths of God’s revelation. Even after he came back to Jerusalem to meet with Peter (Cephas), he made it a point to say he wasn’t allowing these people of influence to be the primary informant of his gospel (Galatians 1.19-20). We are easily swayed by impactful teachers, but they must never be the primary voice in our mind.
• Bearing fruit of repentance to God’s glory (Galatians 1.23-24). Change according to God’s direction aligns us with him and allows us to access justification by the blood of Jesus.

These lists are an important reminder for us not to get caught up in appearances or what other people think of us. It is God who justifies (Romans 8.33). Let us honor him with our efforts of obedience and faithfulness

BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 1

There is no such thing as a perfect church and that is glaringly evident with a church like that in Corinth.  From the get-go we learn about prideful rivalries, sexual immorality between members, issues with marriage and divorce… There is a laundry list of issues here that needed attention. And yet Paul addressed them as “the church of God that is in Corinth… Those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together” (1 Corinthians 1.2).

Before getting to these issues, Paul put Jesus front and center as the basis for his plea to this church. 9 times in the first 9 verses, Paul invokes the name of Jesus. He recounts the benefits in Christ, the sufficiency of Christ, and the fellowship they share together in Christ. They are lacking in nothing because Christ was preached, and gifts were given to equip them for their new life in Christ (1 Corinthians 1.6-7). While the issues he had to discuss were important, Paul reminded them that loyalty to Jesus is the fundamental basis for fellowship.

Now with that comes expectation. He doesn’t tell them to simply avoid or ignore their present issues. On the contrary, this letter emphasizes the critical nature of practicing faith according to God’s expectations. Paul plainly states that unholy behavior is inconsistent and unacceptable for those who wear the name of Jesus (1 Corinthians 5.11-13). Hence why he calls them to make judgments, hold one another accountable, and deal with each other in humility (see 1 Corinthians 5.9-13; 8.8-13). Paul’s boldness has nothing to do with elevating himself, but rather elevating Jesus through the lives of his fellow believers.

Allegiance to Christ constrains the actions of believers (Titus 2.11-12). It forces us to examine ourselves more closely and hold one another to a higher standard. But it should also create humility as we understand our limitations and see our sinfulness.

Loyalty to Jesus must be the motivating factor in everything we do. We may not always agree at first, but a commitment to obey and follow Jesus will always bring us closer. We must not forget this fundamental truth. The calling of God is through Christ. The forgiveness of sins is because of Christ. The hope we have is in the sufficiency of Christ. We have no grounds to boast of ourselves except for what Christ has done for me, even while I was an enemy of his (Romans 5.6-9).

There is nothing about our faith and fellowship that can exclude the example, teaching and saving power of Jesus Christ for me. Especially when we find ourselves at odds with others, we must recommit ourselves to unity by promoting a sincere commitment to obey and honor King Jesus.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5.21)

BIBLE READING: Romans 14

Conviction is a critical and practical trait to our faith. We must move from information, to personalization, to transformation by accepting and applying the truths of scripture. And so, as we draw conclusions from scripture we must also have greater determination to practice what we’ve learned.

The problem is we are not all the same. We have different ways of thinking and drawing conclusions. That was certainly true in the 1^st century. A significant difference that existed was over the eating of meats. Under the OT law it was forbidden to eat certain meats (for instance, Leviticus 11.1-47). But that was no longer the case under the law of Christ (see Romans 14.14, 20; 1 Timothy 4.3-5). However, there were still some who were uncomfortable with eating these meats. After all, it was wrong before and it was hard for them to believe that it could be ok now. So, there were two groups with different convictions – those who felt like it was wrong, and those who felt like it was not wrong. What were these disagreeing brethren to do? In this section Paul tells them 3 things:

1. Don’t judge those who draw a different conclusion (Romans 14.1, 13). Someone may not hold the same opinions as you do (14.1). That’s key here. They weren’t disagreeing over doctrine or facts, but opinions. He tells them not to judge or look down on one another just because they hold different opinions.
2. Don’t put a stumbling block in front of another (Romans 14.13, 15-17). In other words, don’t do something I know rubs my brother the wrong way. It is evident these believers had liberty to eat the meat. But because they knew it bothered their brethren Paul expects that to influence their behavior in a positive way. In other words, if I know someone has a strong opinion that differs from mine, don’t go rubbing it in their face. Be respectful of other’s choices and don’t cause them to stumble. My choices can cause others to be angry, jealous, or to feel bad about you because of choices you make. That is not ok in the body.
3. Choose the path of peace (Romans 14.20-22). On matters like these, there are times when it would be better to let some things go for the sake of my brother. “…if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do no destroy the one for whom Christ died” (Romans 14.15). If I know eating meats would cause my brother to be upset or question his beliefs, why not choose never to eat meat around that person? I’d rather make a conscious sacrifice so that I never cause a brother or sister to struggle.

Our differences don’t have to divide us. Even in the areas we disagree, we can all agree to love one another and put each other first—loving like Christ!

“Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (Romans 14.13)

This blog was adapted from thoughts written by Jordan Shouse.

BIBLE READING: Romans 1-8

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5.1-2)

Romans emphasizes grace as a powerful source of hope. But to capture this hope we need to understand that grace is not some ambiguous force from God. Grace is given and received through Jesus. In him we are justified and through him we obtain access to God by faith, ultimately by his resurrection (Romans 4.25; 5.10). It is helpful to realize that grace is, and always has, been a reference to Jesus (see John 1.16; Titus 2.11). But for grace to meaningful, we must observe…

1. The context of grace. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift…” (Romans 3.23-24). We are condemned by our sins and hopeless. When God offered us the gift of grace, it was in our worst condition (Romans 5.6, 10). He did so to demonstrate his love and desire for our good. But Paul makes clear…
2. The movement of grace. This is seen in the prepositional phrases Paul employs over the next several chapters, specifically the idea of going “through Christ” and being “in Christ” (see Romans 3.24; 5.1-2). These phrases imply movement on God’s part AND our part in relation to Jesus. God has reached out to us, but if we want these blessings, we must move from where we are.
3. The surety of grace. It is associated with words like “promises” and “guarantee” (Romans 4.16). The gift of God’s grace in our weakness is an objective moment in time which will not be reversed. That’s why he introduces us once again to the context of grace to emphasize…
4. The power of grace. Grace is not subject to our weakness but will abound all the more in them (Romans 5.20-21). As long as we live, God will offer grace, in hope of producing change in our lives.
5. The result of grace. We are reconciled and saved through Christ. God’s actions of love witness that God’s love can supersede present circumstances; and it teaches us how to live and remain in God’s grace (Titus 2.11-ff).

It can be easy to see the power of our weakness. The consequences of sin are damaging and debilitating. But grace offers a way from God to alter our circumstances. What this means is that hope is always an option. Every day is an opportunity. If you woke up today, you have the power to make choices that will change your future. But that power is not from our own doing. It is from God’s goodness towards us. It is his strength and breath in your body. It is his mercy that opens our minds and hearts to what is right. Sometimes it is in good ways we like and other times it is in difficult circumstances. Either way, you have power in the present because there is hope in the future. That is God’s design and hope. That is God’s wonderful grace.

BIBLE READING: Acts 9.36-42

“Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.” (Acts 9.36)

In a chapter dominated by Saul’s conversion and the continuation of Peter’s gospel work, Tabitha’s story seems misplaced. She didn’t do anything flashy or earth-shattering. She wasn’t a big name in the bible story, but she made a big difference to those around her. So much so that when she died the disciples sent for Peter in hopes that he could do something. I’m not sure what they were expecting; but it is obvious her presence made a difference to these people.  

What I find most remarkable about this story is how she made a difference. What Tabitha did wasn’t something uniquely Christian. Lots of people have made clothes through the years. And certainly, she wasn’t the first one to ever give things away. She didn’t write any books of the Bible. She never performed a miracle. No spiritual gifts are mentioned. No prophecy. No starting a church in her house. No supporting the apostles financially.

What did she do? She made some clothes and with kindness, gave them to others. That doesn’t seem like a big deal. That hardly seems worth even mentioning in the Bible. A few widows were touched by her generosity. But what she did made a difference to those few people around her. She had a talent, and she found a way to use that talent to serve and help others.

I think we ought to take pause to consider why the Holy Spirit felt it necessary to include Tabitha in the bible. The storyline doesn’t change much without people like Tabitha – the gospel is still going to spread, churches started, and people converted; but we see more clearly the result of a life lived for Christ through people like Tabitha. She served because she was a disciple of Jesus Christ. She did what she could, where she was, and others saw it. More importantly, God saw it and preserved her story for us to see as well.

We need stories like this, because when the glitz and glamor of faith fades into everyday life, we can get discouraged. Serving others can be hard. You might feel like you don’t have much to offer. You might ask, “Do my efforts really matter?” I can tell you, your efforts matter to God. Just a cup of cold water given in his name does not go overlooked.

Maybe you can’t preach. Maybe you can’t serve publicly. Maybe you have limitations. I’m sure there were many things Tabitha couldn’t do. But to those widows she was special. Don’t overlook the things that anyone could do. If there is something you can do to make the world a better place, do it. That’s the example of Jesus. Although he was equal with God, he humbled himself taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2). Like Tabitha, we may never be famous in the world, but when we live and serve like Tabitha, God will know our name, now and for eternity.