Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Knowing God
Jeeva John
MTC of
San Francisco, CA
7 so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of
Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by
faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the Gentiles
shall be blessed in you.” 9 For this reason, those who believe are blessed with
Abraham who believed.
Over the past few years I have become intimately familiar with the struggle of finding a place for faith as my knowledge of the world, the history of mankind, the several philosophies of life and many more signs of my ‘worldly wisdom’ increase. I wrestle with questions as I become curious about how Christianity works in a world that’s constantly trying to prove it wrong. Fundamentally what is the ‘truth’? Is it truly what is served to me in the words of a translated Bible that over the years have been tailored to various populations, interpretations, and wisdoms of man as inspired by the Spirit?
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians it is apparent that Paul strived relentlessly to depict Christ and his crucifixion to the Galatians. You can hear this in his letter as he harshly addresses them as fools who have been bewitched. The study bibles note that the Galatians were intelligent people, they weren’t utterly foolish. But they often lacked the ability to use their “powers of perception” and discernment, despite having ‘received the Spirit’ (Galatians 3:1-2). He questions their actions in which they have moved away from the Spirit so far that they abided only by the law. I take comfort in knowing that Paul too never witnessed the crucifixion, but he experienced Christ, and was stirred, almost summoned, by his conviction to share about God’s love. Paul asks the Galatians “Who bewitched them?” Confirming to me that Paul truly believed that even though the Spirit is willing, that the flesh is definitely weak, making them susceptible to the many teachings of the world. He had previously warned them of people who would preach a gospel that was different from what they had accepted. Hence he harshly asks them to think about what they build their life upon. Was it just the Law, or their vulnerability to be swayed by yet another eloquent and charismatic teacher? It is possible that the true question of “ Do you rely completely on God?” to disappear in his harsh admonishing of the Galatians.
Paul was wise to reach far back into history and make specific mention of Abraham while addressing this issue. Abraham was a man who lived his life, and followed the instruction of God not because it was written in a book, or because a prophet who came before him cried out to him about God. Instead, Abraham was a man that talked to God, and I would like to believe that he talked to God often. He had a relationship with God. When I look at my relationships today, I think about the ones that I turn to for wisdom, insight and support. I have a daily and constant relationship with these people. I have learned that only by investing my time and emotion into these people could I know the core of them, thus leading me to trust their instruction. If Abraham had not invested time and emotion I cannot imagine how he would be able to respond to a God that merely ‘spoke’ to him with such obedience, in not once but several instances. Abraham wasn’t necessarily a righteous and flawless man, but his faith in God (as a result of his relationship with him) was counted to him as righteousness. This is the Spirit, which we receive as believing, acknowledging Him and building relationship with God, that Paul refers to. He urges them to not be swayed by the law of the things they have ‘heard’ or to solely rely on them, but to hunger for the knowledge of God.
Over the past few years I have become intimately familiar with the struggle of finding a place for faith as my knowledge of the world, the history of mankind, the several philosophies of life and many more signs of my ‘worldly wisdom’ increase. I wrestle with questions as I become curious about how Christianity works in a world that’s constantly trying to prove it wrong. Fundamentally what is the ‘truth’? Is it truly what is served to me in the words of a translated Bible that over the years have been tailored to various populations, interpretations, and wisdoms of man as inspired by the Spirit?
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians it is apparent that Paul strived relentlessly to depict Christ and his crucifixion to the Galatians. You can hear this in his letter as he harshly addresses them as fools who have been bewitched. The study bibles note that the Galatians were intelligent people, they weren’t utterly foolish. But they often lacked the ability to use their “powers of perception” and discernment, despite having ‘received the Spirit’ (Galatians 3:1-2). He questions their actions in which they have moved away from the Spirit so far that they abided only by the law. I take comfort in knowing that Paul too never witnessed the crucifixion, but he experienced Christ, and was stirred, almost summoned, by his conviction to share about God’s love. Paul asks the Galatians “Who bewitched them?” Confirming to me that Paul truly believed that even though the Spirit is willing, that the flesh is definitely weak, making them susceptible to the many teachings of the world. He had previously warned them of people who would preach a gospel that was different from what they had accepted. Hence he harshly asks them to think about what they build their life upon. Was it just the Law, or their vulnerability to be swayed by yet another eloquent and charismatic teacher? It is possible that the true question of “ Do you rely completely on God?” to disappear in his harsh admonishing of the Galatians.
Paul was wise to reach far back into history and make specific mention of Abraham while addressing this issue. Abraham was a man who lived his life, and followed the instruction of God not because it was written in a book, or because a prophet who came before him cried out to him about God. Instead, Abraham was a man that talked to God, and I would like to believe that he talked to God often. He had a relationship with God. When I look at my relationships today, I think about the ones that I turn to for wisdom, insight and support. I have a daily and constant relationship with these people. I have learned that only by investing my time and emotion into these people could I know the core of them, thus leading me to trust their instruction. If Abraham had not invested time and emotion I cannot imagine how he would be able to respond to a God that merely ‘spoke’ to him with such obedience, in not once but several instances. Abraham wasn’t necessarily a righteous and flawless man, but his faith in God (as a result of his relationship with him) was counted to him as righteousness. This is the Spirit, which we receive as believing, acknowledging Him and building relationship with God, that Paul refers to. He urges them to not be swayed by the law of the things they have ‘heard’ or to solely rely on them, but to hunger for the knowledge of God.
PRAYER
Dear God, we pray today
that we never stop asking questions. We ask you for wisdom to never be content
with knowing just enough, but give us the tenacity to seek as deep as we must
to know You and to hear You! Amen
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
Knowing God is the foundation of faith.
Knowing God is the foundation of faith.