October 25
Scripture focus: You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it's obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough. Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up! Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Galatians 3:1-5 The Message
“The God of whom Jesus spoke searches the horizon looking for signs of the return of broken, damaged, missing-the-mark people like us. God is delighted when we become visible, when we can be seen.” Soul Repair, p.47
Those crazy Galatians!
They approached the throne of grace looking for forgiveness of sins and a relationship with the living God. And they got it.
But as soon as they received the potential for abundant living they returned to their small living ways.
Here’s another thing about spiritual renewal – it’s not a straight ascension. It’s a messy journey, full of backsliding and side-stepping, slipping and sliding, and on occasion beautiful moments of living in the sweetness of a moment when you experience the love of God and know that you never want to go back to the land of living on your own best intentions.
God cares about how we live but he brings the Apostle Paul into our lives to remember that the good life is a gift from God. We can’t buy it or build it by self-will.
Spiritual renewal is a by-product of trusting God with our entire self – not just the parts that make us look good.
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