Galatians 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.

It is often commented that Galatians is the only one of Paul’s letters that doesn’t start with thanking God for the people to whom he’s writing. That shows how upset he was at the news he was getting from Galatia! As a point of sad fact, there are many churches today who are worthy of such letters, though  not for identical reasons. In the case of Galatia, they were deviating into a “gospel” of legalism, of works, but today, the main false gospel seems to be one of license and accommodation to the world, going the opposite direction from the Galatians. Neither one is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. That Gospel removes all possibility of human pride, and at the same time exalts the holiness of God. In a number of ways it seems too good to be true, and understandably so, because it is literally impossible by human effort. God’s plan of the ages, as Paul talks about in Ephesians 1, is beyond anything human beings could or would dream up. It is perfect grace and at the same time full accountability. We can’t hit that balance on our own! The Gospel is so wonderful, when we fully grasp it we can endure anything, because we know the glory that has been laid up for us in heaven. As has been quipped, God’s “retirement plan” for His children is out of this world! Every believer needs a personal relationship with their Savior, but the devil and the world do all they can to interfere with that. I’ve found that a consistent pattern of daily devotions, even for 10 minutes a day, is the exception rather than the rule, even among church-goers. And there is wide variety in the quality of such devotions as well. Devotional publications, such as Upper Room or Daily Bread, are certainly helpful, but they are essentially pre-digested pablum. There’s a time for that, but believers should be aiming for steak! God’s truth is freely available, and we should be seeking the help of the Holy Spirit to take it in regularly and fully, without distortion or apology, so that we may grow to be the children God desires.

I honestly don’t remember when I started a consistent habit of daily devotions. I’m fairly sure it was after the Lord called me to account for my spiritual pride! Now, it’s absolutely indispensable for me, and I get very irritated when things try to infringe on it. The flip side of that is that I have more and more drive to share the Gospel with others. I don’t feel I’m gifted as an evangelist, but I can share what God has done for me, and that’s the heart of evangelism. I am grieved to see the various false gospels that are promulgated, but I am to proclaim God’s truth in love, regardless of the social or religious climate. “Gospel music” can be wonderful, and a good method of evangelism, but some of the lyrics today are so human-centered that there’s no Gospel left. There’s a very amusing song out that pokes fun at the “formula” for writing “Contemporary Christian” music, but it’s so true, it can make you cry, even after you’ve laughed. One of my daughters serves as the Worship Leader in her church, and she sometimes has to be very firm in declining to use songs that are quite popular, but have no true Gospel left in them. I can’t sort it all out on my own, so I’ve got to ask and allow the Holy Spirit to be my filter and my megaphone, so that God’s truth may indeed set people free. (John 8:32)

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for Your faithfulness to speak to and through me. May I speak nothing that is contrary to Your Gospel in any way, but rejoice to be Your agent in truth, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!