The Call of Grace & Truth!

Scripture:  Galatians 1:1–19, "1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother."

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and is turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse! As we have already said, now I say again: If anybody is preaching a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse!

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; instead, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the Church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being."

Devotion:  In this powerful introduction to the letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul asserts his authority and the essence of the gospel he preaches. He emphasizes that he was called not by human authority but by Jesus Christ Himself. This foundational truth reminds us that our faith rests on divine revelation rather than human opinion.

Paul's astonishment at the Galatians' quick departure from the gospel of grace highlights a critical issue we still face today: the temptation to alter or dilute the message of Christ to fit societal preferences. The Galatians were drifting toward a "different gospel" that added conditions to grace and shifted the focus from Christ's sufficiency to human effort. Paul passionately defends the purity of the gospel, stating that any alteration is not just misguided; it is dangerously misleading.

His unwavering commitment to the truth serves as an example for us. In a world where many seek to please people, often at the expense of truth, we are called to stand firm in our faith. Following Jesus may sometimes mean standing apart from popular opinion and facing opposition, but our allegiance must be to God. Paul urges us to evaluate our motivations: Are we striving for human approval or earnestly serving Christ?

Paul's testimony further emphasizes the transformative power of grace. He describes how, despite his past as a vehement persecutor of Christians, God set him apart and revealed the truth of Christ to him. This radical change illustrates that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. It reminds us that God can use our past experiences, even the painful ones, to shape our future purpose in His kingdom.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for the saving grace I have in Christ. Help me to stand firm in the truth of the gospel and resist the distractions and distortions of this world. May I seek Your approval above all else and be bold in sharing the good news of Your love. Just as You transformed Paul, use my past for Your glory and guide me in the purpose You have for my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Reflection:  Take a moment to reflect on the message of grace in your own life. Are there areas where you feel tempted to compromise your faith for acceptance? Consider journaling about your journey and any moments of transformation you've experienced through God's grace. How can you actively stand for the truth in your daily interactions? Think of ways to share the unaltered gospel with those around you this week, whether in conversation, writing, or acts of service.