Corona Devo 1329

...Even that question came up only because of some so-called believers there—false ones, really—who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations. (5) But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you.   ~Galatians 2:4-5

Paul was sharing with his church about his (trying/frustrating/limiting) experience with some "so-called believers".

(By the way, Paul also shares many encouraging, uplifting, faith-building examples that he experienced with believers.)

But Paul was honest and God-fearing on all accounts --he wasn't just verbal on the positives to keep everything nicey-nicey.  (For an alternate example: when I tell a story, I sometimes leave out the messy or complicated facts if they deter or appear to "take-away" from the happy ending or eventual positive outcome.)

But Paul knew better and he did better.  Paul knew and was sharing one of his challenging experiences  with "believers". 

God knew that Paul's experience would (sometimes) relate to ours, and so God shared it with us in these verses today.

Are we battling anything or anyone today?

Is our work/Kingdom-efforts/light-for-the-Lord being fettered by someone or something?  Are we being weighed-down or being way-laid?

In Paul's example it was the topic of circumcision.  Prior to Jesus, Jews were required (by God) to be circumcised in obedience to the Lord.  But post-Jesus, He set a new standard, or (in a way), Jesus dropped all previous standards or requirements.  The new requirement was simply to declare, believe and live for the Lord.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  ~Romans 10:9

Paul knew this, but there were some in his church that either did not know the ease of salvation that came with Christ, or they didn't accept it.  And so--they haggled Paul.

Are there "so-called believers...false ones, really", who have been secretly brought into our lives/our circle/our project/our efforts...for God?  

Paul knew that they "sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus".  Paul also knew that "they wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their...regulations".

Maybe we can't relate to this today.  Maybe this doesn't ring a bell.  Or maybe it does.

...I am not trying to be a muckraker...finger-pointer...or mud slinger.  But these are the verses that God lays in front of us today to apply to our lives.

Paul knew that there were difficult/false believers, and he was sharing one of his experiences with his fellow believers. 

God knows that one of us might be experiencing this too.   

What should we do? 

What did Paul do? 

What didn't he do?  

What does God say in His Word? 

But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you.   ~Galatians 2:5

What does God lay out/exemplify/encourage us to do today?

What instruction does God speak into us if this is our situation today?

But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you.   ~Galatians 2:5

Refuse to give in to them. 

Preserve the truth of the gospel.  

Keep shining your light for Christ today.  

Refuse to give in to..."so-called believers"/false ones/those that sneak in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus.  They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations (Galatians 2:4).

Keep shining your light for Jesus today.  Let nothing deter or alter the truth of the gospel message that God has given us to share.

Don't hide it under a bushel of regulations, religious traditions, or popular opinions...No!

Don't let someone/satan/"false ones"/intimidation blow-it-out...No!  Not for a single moment.

We're gonna let the light of Jesus and God's Word SHINE from us today.

But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you.   ~Galatians 2:5

Keep shining your light for Jesus today.  Keep preserving the truth of the gospel message today.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.   ~I Peter 2:12

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

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