Tear Down the Walls: Galatians Part 1
Settle your heart and mind as you prepare to jump into our devotions this week.
Breath deep for 60 seconds.
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Well, friends, we are jumping into the book of Galatians. As with anything that we do, we are not seeking to only know more about the Bible or know more about spirituality, but we are endeavoring to invite the scriptures to reshape our hearts and to recalibrate our vision for life.
Paul wrote Galatians. For much of his life, Paul’s (formerly Saul) heart and vision for life was broken. Acts 9:1:
“Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord…”
Acts 9:1 NASB
Saul, thinking that he was bringing goodness to the world, was actually diametrically opposed to goodness. It is obvious to us that Saul was misdirected (murderous thoughts and threats are a great clue), but Saul didn’t see his own error.
Pause.
How about you?
Last week, we evaluated the fruit of our own lives against (amazingly), the words of a redeemed Paul:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 NASB
It was a revelation of Jesus Christ that redirected Saul and transformed him into Paul. Paul who wrote these amazing words.
Saul was on his way to carry out his murderous threats…and then Jesus showed up:
As he [Saul] was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Acts 9:3–6 (NLT)
Jesus spoke to Saul, confronted him, and redirected him.
We too need a revelation of Jesus Christ. Right now, read this prayer and expect Jesus to continue to reveal himself to you:
Jesus, I need you. Jesus, I ask you to confront me and show me my error. I confess that I am ignorant of my own immaturity. I am unable to mature on my own. Holy Spirit, fill me and convict me. Renew me today, I pray. Amen.
