Scripture: Galatians 1:13-14
You heard about my previous life in Judaism, how severely I harassed God’s church and tried to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my peers, because I was much more militant about the traditions of my ancestors.
Thought for the Day: As we continue to prepare for Sunday’s introductory sermon on Galatians, I draw your attention to this key part of Paul’s history. He described himself as much more zealous than his peers when it came to persecuting the Jesus followers, but the Common English Bible (used above) translates the word as militant. This begins to get at the heart of what Paul was attempting to communicate. His persecution was not just in word or mild harassment. It assumed brutal treatment, even death. Paul was so vehement in his beliefs for two reasons that I would like to suggest. First, Paul believed anyone hung upon a tree (cross) was cursed (Gal. 3:13), and to claim Jesus as the incarnation of God would have been blasphemous to Paul. He was quoting from Hebrew Scriptures, or at the time of Paul, the only scriptures. Plus, early followers of Jesus were claiming that the new era (Kingdom) had come in the death and resurrection of Jesus. This new era, according to Jewish prophecy, spoke of a new day when Gentiles would be welcomed into the Holy Temple. Prior to Paul’s transformative moment, he simply could not imagine that such a day had occurred by a person who was hung upon a tree. Paul was making his argument from a sound Biblical and theological perspective, but then everything changed when he met an image of the resurrected Christ along the road to Damascus. Paul had only been upholding the scriptures as he knew to do so, yet an encounter with the Living Word (the Holy Spirit – the Resurrected Christ) allowed him to see the heart of scripture which presented a vision of love inaugurated through one who hung upon a tree.
Prayer: Lead my life, O Holy God, so I can be zealous for your unconditional love. Amen.
WITH ALL THE STORMS
Be Careful Out There
Prayers for all within our community
dealing with flooding.
