Turn back. Galatians 1
Galatians 1 (7)
Opening Prayer: Psalm 116.4-6
Then I called upon the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!”
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.
Sing Psalm 116.4-6
(Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise To God Who Reigns Above)
I called to God, “O LORD, I pray, my soul redeem with favor!”
The LORD is gracious in His way, and righteous is our Savior.
His mercy to the simple flies; He lifted me up to the skies—
I rest in Him forever!
Read Galatians 1.1-24; meditate on verses 6, 7, 22-24.
Preparation
1. Why were the Galatians turning away from the Gospel?
2. How did the Judean churches respond to Paul’s preaching?
Meditation
Here’s the long and short of it: If you (or your church) should turn away from the Gospel of the Kingdom to add something to that Gospel or to refocus it on anything or anyone other than Christ, know for certain that you will not glorify God. You will only glorify yourself or some other human being or some form of teaching.
The churches in Judea only heard about Paul’s preaching. They hadn’t actually heard him preach. They’d only heard the reports that he was preaching Jesus. And their response was to glorify God.
The Galatians, meanwhile, had heard Paul preach. They had listened to his teaching. But he was gone now, and they were beginning to drift toward “another gospel” than the one Paul preached. He warned them they would only be glorifying something or someone other than what God approved.
So, how to rescue them from their drift? Go back to the same Gospel he preached before and preach it all over again. The cure for drifting from the truth is more truth. The antidote for turning away from Jesus is to turn back to Him. Conviction, confession, repentance, return. Galatians in a nutshell.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Well, bless your heart! Aren’t you doing a good job.” If you are from the South, you are in the know, that that is really a back-handed compliment. You may as well say, “That is the worst job ever, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why you have done that. But bless your heart, anyway.” The bless your heart is a requirement regardless.
Paul is sort of going the southern route in his statement here: “I marvel that you are turning away so quickly. Bless your heart.”
Imagine the other synonyms he could’ve used: I gape and stare, I gaze and goggle with wonder; I’m awed, feel surprise, and stand in awe of your sinful stupidity.
Why are you turning away from the best thing that has ever happened to and for you?
“I am amazed that you are turning away so soon from God who, in His love and mercy, invited you to share the eternal life He gives through Christ; you are already following a different ‘way to heaven,’ which really doesn’t go to heaven at all. For there is no other way than the one we showed you; you are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ” (Gal. 1.6, 7 TLB).
Do we want Paul to say to us, “I marvel at you”?
“I’m agape and amazed that you would deviate from the Jesus Path.”
Or do we long to hear from our Savior, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? (Matt. 25.21, 23)
The best way to hear the latter, and not the former, comes from Wisdom, regarding the Word of God:
“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD;
but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
all those who hate me love death” (Prov. 8.32-36).
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and in His law he meditates day and night” (Ps. 1.1, 2).
Paul was a marvel in all the right ways.
Others gazed and goggled with wonder at him, but for the right reason.
They glorified God in him. Without even having to bless his heart.
Reflection
1. How could you know when you might be drifting away from the Lord? What should you do then?
2. How can believers hold one another accountable in love for staying close to the Lord and the Gospel?
3. What can you do to keep your church from drifting?
Paul says that the churches of Judea gave glory to God for what they had heard, and this was a rebuke to those of Galatia, who did not do the same even though they had seen the power of God at work in him. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Galatians
Closing Prayer: Psalm 116.7-19
Rejoice in the Good News of Jesus, that He alone is the way, the truth, and the life. Commit yourself afresh to following only Jesus.
Sing Psalm 116.7-19
(Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise to God Who Reigns Above)
Full well the LORD has dealt with me; my soul from death He delivered.
My weeping eyes, my stumbling feet, He has redeemed forever.
Forever I before His face shall walk with those who know His grace,
and dwell with them forever.
Afflicted, I believe His Word, though lying men would undo me.
What shall I render to the LORD for all His blessings to me?
Salvation’s cup I lift above and call upon the God of love
and pay my vows most truly.
How sweet to Him when saints depart—make me Your servant, Savior!
From sin You loosed my wand’ring heart; I praise Your Name forever!
On You I call, my vows to pay; here in Your Presence I would stay
Your praise to offer ever.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
