Galatians 1 - 11.21.24
S - Galatians 1:22-24 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they praised God because of me.
O – Galatians 1 is the introduction to Paul's letter to the Galatian church, which deals with a theological crisis caused by Judaizers who distorted the Gospel. Paul defends the divine authority of his apostleship and the Gospel's unity, denouncing any perversion of the Christ-centered message. He describes how and when Christ trained and sent him out to preach the gospel of Jesus. The chapter details Paul's biography, as he makes the case that he has been made an apostle by Christ and therefore his message is trustworthy. Paul sought to bring people to the obedience of God, not of men, and would not alter the doctrine of Christ to gain their favor or avoid their fury.
A – I was personally unknown and when they heard about the filthy sinner I was, and of the life of faith and love that I currently live out, for the Glory of God, and they BELIEVED. I am paraphrasing the above scripture of course, but this is how I want to be known! It’s great if you have grown up in church, maybe haven’t had much to feel ashamed about in your past, or just always have lived for God. Obviously, that speaks volumes to many. But I love that I can relate to Paul in such a big way. I hate who I used to be, but I love the contrast I can see in my own life. I love that God took that ugliness and made beauty from ashes : ) Anyone who knew me BC knows that there were things I was doing in my life that weren’t great, and I am not proud of; some so horrible I would never share them, and those who know me now would be shocked to know. I am SOOOOO grateful that God has made me a new person! The old me is gone and I have replaced the vile things I used to do, with things that give honor to, and glorify God. I am definitely still a work in progress, but I am so thankful to be able to have the love of God inside of me to share with others now. I used to hate who I was, but now, I actually like me : ) I have run into people over the years who knew me when, and I can see a look in their eye as we catch up, like they aren’t sure what to make of the way I speak to them now, or the things I am doing in my life now. I pray that they would some day praise God because of me! And I often wonder, how can they NOT?! The ones that know what they know and see me now…..how could they not believe that YOU changed me. Nothing else could have made such a drastic change in me.
P – Lord Jesus, I pray that the answer to the question, how could they not, is not because I am doing something wrong, or living in a way that is not pleasing to you. I pray that my life is an example to others and the way you desire for me to live out my walk with you. I can never thank you enough for pulling me out of that pit. Like Paul, you met me doing my own thing, and in an instant, captured my heart forever. You have converted my life into something useful for the Kingdom of God. I pray I will NEVER take that for granted and that you will always be the FIRST thing in my life. I pray that others will see you working in and through me, and that they will BELIEVE!
- Crystal Flory
