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Note to readers: This is an alternate reading from the Three Year Lectionary, and may not match up with the readings your church uses this Sunday.
Galatians 1:11-13, 15-24 – For I would have you know, brothers, that the Gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. … But when He who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me, in order that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.
Paul sounds super frustrated to me—and I can’t blame him, it’s the scariest thing ever to watch people whom you love, whom you taught the Gospel, suddenly take a left turn into false teaching! And that’s what the Galatians are doing. Someone has gotten hold of them and said, “Trusting in Jesus to save you is not enough; you also have to get circumcised and follow this long list of requirements.” And God help them, the Galatians are listening. They are adding stuff to the Gospel, and Paul is freaking out.
He’s right to freak out. Because if we add anything to Jesus, we are saying that He is not enough. We are putting our trust in the extra bit, whatever it is. That is what we expect to save us; that is what we think will give us life.
So Paul reminds the Galatian Christians that he got the Gospel straight from Jesus’ own mouth, and he passed it on to them. That is what they are rejecting in favor of some human teaching—and how horrifying, to turn away from Jesus’ own message to go follow something else! May it never be.
Because Jesus is enough—we don’t need to add anything to the work He did to save us. When He became a human being, lived and served among us, suffered and died on the cross, and then rose from the dead, never to die again—He finished it all. What is left for us to do? Nothing—except to be happy, and to thank Him, and to enjoy Him. The Holy Spirit is in charge of us, and our lives are in His hand. We can stop fussing, and allow the Spirit to do as He plans.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, keep my heart and life focused on Jesus only. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
- Why do you think people keep hunting around for something to add to faith in Jesus?
- What are some of the things they tend to add, in your experience?
- Consider privately: Are you comfortable depending on Jesus for everything? Take a moment to pray about your answer.
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