3 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?
5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.
Galatians 3:1-5
Dear God, the Catholic translation being read in churches today for this passage uses the word stupid instead of foolish. It’s certainly more provocative than foolish. Foolish intimates hastiness and being unwise. Stupid seems more harsh and insulting. So it got my attention this morning when I was reading the passages today from the Catholic website I use.
I have to admit that I thought about taking the verses and talking about some of the concerns I have in the American Evangelical church. It feels like so many of them have left the new lives they started in the Spirit and are not trying to become perfect (and make our nation perfect) by their own human effort. Where is their faith? Where is their love? Where are the fruits of the Spirit (which Paul will talk about two chapters later)?
Ah, but what about me? Do I remember to keep my life in the Spirit? I have some real challenges at work. Am I really bringing them to you or am I trying to do it by my own human effort? The answer is both. I’m remembering to pray. I’m praying now. And I’m praying about the situation and the people involved now. But I’m not as intense about it as I should be. And I do sit at my desk or drive in my car, think about the problems in front of me, and try to come up with a solution on my own without tapping into your Holy Spirit. It’s a continual battle, I suppose. And it’s a narrow path to walk. It’s a hard path to find, and it can be a hard path to not accidentally wander from if we allow ourselves to slip out of your light and into the darkness.
Father, I just had a Twila Paris song come to mind, “Keeping My Eyes On You.” The chorus: “Lord, I’m keeping my eyes on you. Following you. Following you, my Lord.” That takes me to another Twila Paris song: “Do I Trust You, Lord?” This one deserves the whole chorus:
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the river flow?
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the north wind blow?
You can see my heart
You can read my mind
And You got to know
That I would rather die
Than to lose my faith
In the One I love
Do I trust You, Lord?
Do I trust You?
Father, I believe. Help my unbelief.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
