“Worthy of His Trust?”

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Meditation on Galatians 1:10-24

June 9, 2013

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     Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human socurce, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

      You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

       Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, ‘The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they glorified God because of me. (Gal. 1:10-24)

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   On Saturday morning, Alice Beekman called and said she and Lawrence would be stopping by our house in a little while.  They had something to give us.  Before long, the doorbell rang, the dogs started barking, and Alice and Lawrence were at the back door.  They had brought me a feed bucket!

      I hadn’t been expecting guests that morning. Jim and I usually spend Saturdays working on sermons and worship planning.  But I was only a little surprised when I heard who had come and what they had brought. You see on Tuesday, during our Golden Heirs meeting, I happen to ask casually, “Does anyone have a rain barrel?”

      We had been talking about all the rain we have been having.  And I remembered last summer—when it was so hot and dry and my flowers and newly planted shrubs needed water every day—just to stay alive! 

     My casual question stirred a conversation about what else could be used for collecting raindrops to use for watering plants or filling birdbaths.  I learned that any bucket or trough will do; it doesn’t have to be a rain barrel.  Inez has all kinds of buckets in her yard to catch rainwater for her plants! 

     Then Alice said, “We have a feed bucket you can use.”

     And I knew that Alice meant it.  Because whenever she or Lawrence offers to give something or do something, they will give it and they will do it. Like other loving folks in our small town community of faith, they have proven that they are people who are true to their word. They demonstrate daily their commitment to Christ’s call with their gracious attitude and lives of humble service and kindness to others, especially to people in need.

     They will be embarrassed by my words today, and for that, I apologize to them. But I speak of them because I know that Alice and Lawrence live this way not just because they are nice people! They live this way because they are grateful to God for His blessings and especially for the gift of His Son! Their gratitude leads them and the Spirit empowers them to humble service and acts of kindness—and to be people who are worthy of our trust!

     But more importantly, they seek to be Christ’s servants and to be pleasing to God. To be people who are worthy of His trust!

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       The Apostle Paul, in our reading today from his letter to the Galatians, reminds us that being Christ’s servants should be the focus of our lives—and not trying to please other people. He has a message to share with the Christians in Galatia—a message that is not going to be pleasing to all—and especially not the church leaders. The hard truth that he speaks is that the churches have departed from the gospel that Paul had taught them!

       The Galatians no longer seem to respect Paul’s authority in the faith, despite the fact that they became believers as a result of Paul’s missionary efforts. But then others come and preach to the Galatians. They are persuaded to return to following the laws of the Old Testament. Paul is furious when he learns that churches in Galatia have begun requiring that males be circumcised!  To Paul, this is bondage, when Christ came to set us free from the law!  This is salvation by works, and not salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

         Paul speaks boldly and plainly in chapter 1 verse 9, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!” And just in case the Galatians didn’t hear his message clearly enough or the passion behind his words, Paul adds, “As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!”

        Then Paul goes back to the beginning to re-establish trust and his authority with the Galatians, all over again. He recounts his testimony and is open about who he used to be and who he has become. He emphasizes the changes in himself and his life brought about by the Holy Spirit. He admits to his “violent persecution” of Christians and his desire to “destroy the Church” before his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. He stresses God’s plan and purpose for His life—encouraging the Galatians not to place their trust in human beings at all, but to place their trust in God alone.

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      Sadly, we never learn how the Galatians received Paul’s message.  We only have this one letter Paul sent to them. Did they listen to him?    

     I can’t help but wonder what happened.

     But whether or not Paul was successful in persuading the Galatian churches to give up circumcision, his letter to the Galatians has impacted Christians in every age; it continues to be read regularly in churches around the world. And to the best of my knowledge, no Christian church requires circumcision for membership today.

     What stood out to me as a message for our church this week was Galatians 1:10. Paul writes, “Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

     Friends, these are good questions for us! If we are seeking human approval over God’s approval in the decisions we make and the actions we take as a church and as individuals—then we are not serving Christ!  

     We may not be struggling with the issue of circumcision or attempting to adhere to Old Testament dietary and purity laws, but we do struggle sometimes to let go of old ways and rely on the Spirit to move us forward.  We have our traditions and routines, and we are comfortable with them. And whenever we consider doing something new or making a change in our worship or ministry, we always worry, “will this upset someone in the church?” instead of simply asking the Lord what would be pleasing to Him—and what new song he wants us to sing.

      Brothers and sisters, may our lives reveal our devotion and gratitude to the One who has blessed us beyond all measure, especially with the gift of His Son!

     May the world know by our kindness and compassion that we are Christ’s servants! May we learn to let go of our anxiety and allow the Spirit to lead us, letting nothing from the past hold us back from becoming the church God wants us to be.

     May we learn to walk boldly as the Lord’s faithful children, worthy of His trust!

Let us pray.

   Lord God, thank you for your new covenant—salvation by your grace through faith in the suffering work of your Son!  Forgive us for the many times we have sought human approval rather than seeking your Will and to be pleasing first and foremost to You! Forgive us for wanting to hold onto traditions and routines because they are comfortable, instead of trusting in You and seeking to be led by Your Spirit. Lord, teach us how to let go of our anxiety and live as a people who are worthy of Your trust—people whose generosity, mercy, and compassion reveal our devotion to you and commitment to following Christ with our lives!  In Your Son’s precious name we pray.  Amen!