What Have You Been Told?

Galatians 3:1-3 You foolish Galatians!  Who has bewitched you?  Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.  I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit  by the works of the law,  or by believing what you heard?  Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?

The proliferation of news sources out there for us to draw our information from is simply staggering. The Internet and social media have added a totally new dimension to how we, as believers, consume our information. And this is regardless of whether it is part of our Christian study of the Word, or just catching up on the news of the day. It is liken to drinking from a fire hose.

The Apostle Paul raises a very important point in his letter to the Galatians. What is great about this point is this one, like so many others he raises, is this point is just as valid today as it was back in Paul's day. We are bombarded with so many of our information sources telling us that grace is too simple to be true.  There are too many people in our world who seek to earn grace.  Their efforts are noble, even if they are completely misguided.  "After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?"  Many who first started as believers who followed grace by faith have fallen into the trap of grace by means of the flesh.  The lure of that false doctrine is strong in that it feeds a basic need exemplified by trying to apply logic where faith is all that is called for, or needed.  What is completely ironic is this age of entitlement should feed the desire to accept grace by faith.  And yet, this is not the case.  Many have been "bewitched" into believing the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was not enough for some people to accept.  It is disturbing, but that is the case. They are saying 'Thanks Jesus, but You were not enough to save me.' Friends of the risen savior, grace by works is a dead end.  And that has to be our response when confronted by those who seek to divert us from our grace-filled path.  We must speak the truth.  And we must do so in love.  Our imperative is to reach out to the lost and share the words of grace with love, and not anger or hate. We must share the love of Christ with those who do not know that love, or have been "bewitched".  We can make a difference, and do not let anyone tell you anything different.


PRAYER:  Father, we are beset by many who seek to draw us away from Your grace. We are inundated by the noise of grace by works.  Many in our world have fallen into the trap of that line of reasoning.  Help us Dear Lord.  Send Your Spirit to fill our hearts and minds with the faith we need to stay strong. And send Your Spirit to fill our mouths with Your words of grace by faith. Let us be Your voice of love to the world we live in. We ask this in the name our our risen savior Jesus Christ who with the Father and the Spirit are one God now and forever, Amen.