1 May ESOCS Devotional
TEXT: GALATIANS 1:1-12
MEMORY VERSE: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.” Galatians 1:8
Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Churches in Southern and Northern Galatia, which he founded during his missionary journey. Before the letter, the Judaizers entered Galatia to argue that Paul was not an authentic apostle and that out of a desire to make the message more appealing to Gentiles he had removed certain legal requirements from the gospel. They also told Galatian believers that they must be circumcised and keep the Law Of Moses in order to be saved. Paul thus wrote to counter these claims and in our text today, he emphasized his call as an apostle by Jesus Christ and the authenticity of the gospel message.
Christians know that there was a time when we did not know God through Jesus Christ. In the same manner, Apostle Paul once persecuted the Church against the will of God. But on that unforgettable day, Jesus Christ called him into the fold to be an apostle. So also must each one of us come to the point of encounter somehow with Jesus Christ in circumstances that are remarkable. Oh yes, a truly converted Christian does not forget that day when Jesus Christ washed his sins away. In verse 1 of our text, Paul said boldly, “From Paul, whose call to be an apostle did not come from human means, but Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from death.”
Read yesterday’s ESOCS daily devotional here
To be converted to Christ, you must hear the true gospel message and believe it. You must agree that: you lived a sinful life; you deserved to die; but God gave Jesus Christ who came and died in your place, resurrected, and now seated at the throne of the Father. You must accept and confess them. In verse 4 of our text, Paul puts it thus: “In order to set us free from this present evil age, Christ gave himself for our sins, in obedience to the will of our God and Father.” See also Romans 10:9-10.
However, true converts must beware of false teachers. Some of them lace the gospel with traditional beliefs to water down the potency of the gospel message. Some present the gospel message in a manner that satisfies their selfish aims. Some are ignorant of the gospel message but propagate their ignorance in order to protect their physical status in the church. We must not allow them deceive us. Paul lamented over the Galatian Church thus in verse 6 of Galatians 1: “I am surprised at you! In no time at all you are deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ, and are accepting another gospel.”
No matter the rank, position, or class of a personality who propagates an idea contrary to the gospel message, that idea must be rejected by a true convert. In verse 8 and 9, Paul warned that not even an angel from heaven should be believed when his message runs contrary to the gospel message. The truth that Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith must be totally accepted and protected.
CHALLENGES
√ Have you been truly converted to Christ?
1 May ESOCS Devotional – PRAYER POINT
√ Lord, make me know what I don’t know about the gospel, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
FURTHER READING
√ Judges 16:1-31; 2Corinthians 13:1-14
