- I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:6-7 – That last phrase got me, “to distort the gospel of Christ.” Meaning to change it into something that it isn’t. As scary as that sounds, let’s look at it this way. The Gospel of Christ is so good that in order to make someone walk away from it someone would have to change, distort it, into something it’s not to make it be unattractive. That the only way to get people to not desire it is to make it out into something it’s not. Know the true Gospel we follow is rich and beautiful; something that even the strongest of opposers to the Christian faith can’t deny its value. Make sure that the Gospel you’re sharing with your words, and especially your actions, is the true one. If people are walking away from the Gospel, it’s not because the Gospel isn’t good enough. Let’s make sure the Gospel they are hearing is the true one. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 531
- And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me. Galatians 1:22-24 – Here Paul speaks of the beginnings of his ministry life after Jesus revealed Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus. Not knowing the name of Paul for us today in the church would seem odd, but at this point the believers in Jesus just knew of Paul’s story. That there was a man who was pursuing and persecuting anyone who was a follower of Jesus, but because of a change God made in this man he now is preaching the message of the Gospel instead of trying to stop it. Paul’s story invigorated the churches and caused them to praise the Lord. Let this example be one to encourage a shift away from shame of your story to one of using it for God’s glory. Yes, you’re past may have been a messy one and as a result you are filled with shame. You’re a believer now, and God has rescued from that past, but you refuse to share that part of your story because of the shame attached to it. Please here this, there is no need to be filled with shame over the past that Jesus has saved you from. We all have sin in our story, we all have pasts, but those of us who now follow Jesus have been rescued from all that. What people in our world need to see is not a “perfect” Christian, but a redeemed people. The world needs to see that we too were once held captive by sin…but God. Jesus came into our story and made us whole, and He can do that for them to. Let them know your whole story so they can see that Jesus can save their whole story too. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2390
Daily DEVO 