DAD'S DAILY BREAD

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— Gal 3:1–5

The amplified version says ” O you poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians!” At the first moment I thought yes, how foolish are they? They were taught straight from Paul himself. Salvation was from Christ alone and by faith alone. How could they so easily forget His teaching? But then I’m instantly reminded of my life and the many times God has stepped into my life and pulled me out of the depths of Hell only for me to go running right back into the flames. Paul wants to remind us of how we were saved. Remind us who did all the work. And remind us what to do once we have exposed teaching that doesn’t line up with God’s Word! But most importantly Paul was disappointed by their disobedience to the real Gospel. The only true Gospel!

When I think more about how I could possibly do these same things as the Galatians, I see the steps that sin takes to neutralize the truth. Something happens to me or to someone close to me and in my sinful flesh I go to my memory and I pick from the past the things that brought me comfort. I start to use them over and over until I think and act like I no longer need the Lord. Sometimes I travel down that path longer than others but lately God has been changing me so that I don’t have to stay on that road as long. There were times in my life that I would travel so far and forget so much that the Lord would have to break my legs to get my attention. Thank the Lord that today I have His Spirit to guide me!

My accountability partner, who is definitely as close to the modern day Paul as we will ever get, showed me a drawing and it made perfect sense. When things happen we always resort to our memory. And from there we have 2 options. Take the redeeming path or go down the corrupt path. The corrupt path is controlled by our flesh and sin and it always ends up with the same disappointing results. Why do I keep choosing that path? Because the other side is the redeeming path. The one controlled by Christ. This one fills you with the Holy Spirit and the power of God. You start to think and act differently. You realize how important God’s Word is and you make it a priority to spend time dwelling on it and letting it take over your life. Without it I would be lost!

Paul is reminding us of the true Gospel. Don’t get doped by false teaching. John MacArthur says,” The notion that sinful, weak, fallen human flesh could improve on the saving work of the Holy Spirit was ludicrous to Paul”. And it needs to be ludicrous to us as well because it is not the truth. Don’t bend the truth to fit how you feel! Change your thinking and be obedient to Christ. He saved us when we were absolutely undeserving! He stepped off His throne so that we could have a relationship with Him. Grab His Word and fill yourself with truth. And hold on to it like your life depends on it. Because it does!

APPLICATION:

Stay completely surrounded by God’s Word. Let it permeate everything I do! Stay humble. Do not defend myself. Let the Lord speak and act for me. Stay true to Him and trust that He is working and that He will not stop until His work is complete in me. Stay dependent on Him! Be obedient in all things and at all times! Pray Pray Pray! God I need you! Thank You for everything! Holy Spirit fill me up!

IN HIS NAME!