2 May 2020 ESOCS Devotional
TEXT: GALATIANS 1:13-24
MEMORY VERSE
“What I write is true, God knows that I am not lying!” Galatians 1:20
The legalistic Judaizers attacked the apostleship of Paul and in our text, Paul wrote to the Galatia Church to tell his own life story.
There is no better way to draw people to believe your message and trust your personality than for you to open up in true confession to tell the story of your life when the occasion presents itself. This will include the sinful past, your early challenges in Christian life and your successful exploits in the service of God. In all of these, ascribe the glory to God through Jesus Christ our Saviour. In telling the Galatia church his sinful past, Paul wrote in verses 13-14 thus, “…how I persecuted without mercy the Church of God and did my best to destroy it…..and was much more devoted to the traditions of our ancestors.”
The time in life when you repented and received Christ is very important in your life story. Do not miss it. Paul spoke of it in this brief analysis of his story. In verses 15 and 16 of our text he said, “But God in His grace chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve Him….decided to reveal His Son to me, so that I might preach the Good News about Him to the Gentiles…”
Read yesterday’s ESOCS devotional here
One should not neglect the impact of others in his life. It is a mark of ungratefulness and pride to delete the impact of mentors and notable men in your life story. Paul recognized the impact of Peter in his life in the ministry. In verse 18, he said, “I was three years later that I went to Jerusalem to obtain information from Peter, and I stayed with him for two weeks.”
It is not enough to write and talk of the positive aspects of your life only. Exposing the negative aspects present you to the congregation as an honest and humble person. By this, many more persons will find reason to repent and confess. In verse 23, we read of Paul thus: “They knew what others were saying: The man who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith that he once tried to destroy and so they praised God because of me.”
CHALLENGES
√ Have you ever confessed your past sinful life to the congregation?
2 May 2020 ESOCS Devotional: PRAYER POINT
√ Father, teach me to be honest and humble as I march forward in the Christian faith, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
FURTHER READING
√ Judges 27:1-13; 18:1-17; Galatians 2:1-10
