October 26
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
How did your new life begin?
The first three steps of the Christ-centered twelve-step model go like this.
1. I admit that I am powerless over my addiction, and that my life is unmanageable.
2. I come to believe that there is a power greater than myself (God) who can restore me to sanity.
3. I make a decision to turn my life and will over to his care and control.
If you’ve ever experienced the need to take these steps, you may recall how vulnerable and weak you felt when you took that first step. Although it may have seemed humiliating, you may have had the privilege of finding some companions who had also taken this path, who helped you distinguish between humility and humiliation.
Others began to affirm and celebrate your decision. They may have told you about how the angels throw a big party when one who is lost is found. The first steps of the twelve-step process are one way that people become visible. When there are things about ourselves that are so shameful that we feel the need to hide them, there is an unwanted side-effect that goes along with the strategy of secrecy – we become invisible. No one wants to be invisible. We were created for community. The super power of invisibility may be very cool in comic books, but it doesn’t make for a very fulfilled life. The Galatians began a new life the day they chose to reveal themselves to God and others. They confessed their sins and longings and lackings. They told the truth about their broken, damaged, missing-the-mark life.
Spiritual renewal is frustrated when we hide parts of who we are from God, others and even self. May you find a community that mirrors God’s delight when you can tell the truth about your broken life.
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