foolishness

Scripture Passage that caught my attention today: Galatians 3:1-3 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?

Observation: Paul was pretty animated in this section and not happy at all with how the Galatian church was behaving. Instead of living in a joyful response to the saving work of Christ, they were lording all kinds of rules and things over the believers, creating a works/righteousness situation which Paul considered an atrocity.


Application: Radical grace is something humans have trouble accepting. We want to feel like we deserve things. Actually, sometimes we’re fine with getting something for free, but tend to hedge when we see someone else—whom we deem less deserving—getting the same thing. Suddenly we don’t feel as “special” or “privileged” anymore. First thing ya know we start attaching strings in regard to gifts that aren’t even ours to grant or restrict. How crazy is that? Paul calls it foolishness. And, unfortunately, it didn’t end with the Galatians.

Prayer: Lord, help us to simply be grateful for all that you provide and to do our best to share your gracious spirit with great enthusiasm. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(readings today included Deuteronomy 19-21 and Galatians 3)