Posted by Pastor Pat on December 10, 2008
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” 2 Cor. 4:7
In today’s culture of glitz, glamour, and glory it is easy to forget that we are but “jars of clay” (NIV). We are clumps of clay waiting to be shaped under the Master’s touch. It is only as He moves in us and through us to those around us that we echo His voice to others. As I consider the infinity of God I am often staggered by our “puny” attempts to contain Him through our “monitoring” of other people’s spirituality. Spiritual fruit is as diversified as the Holy Spirit is immeasurable. Yet as I consider grace and its embodiment in “fleshly pots” I believe the following seven statements are the kinds of reflections we will see in us and through us by those around us.
1. We must never consider ourselves to be better than anyone else regardless as to where they were born, to whom they were born and to what they were born. In Christ’s Church, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).
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Posted by Pastor Pat on December 9, 2008
“But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.” Gal. 2:4
It is hard for us to imagine the abject horror of being awakened in the night by the screams of terror as men, women and children are carried off from knowing the joy of freedom into the chains of slavery. They were becoming the victims of the slave trader. Those people whose livelihood dealt with the cargo of humanity. Our nation poured out its lifeblood to resist and eventually overthrow slavery. Yet Paul continues to deal with spiritual slave traders, people whose intent is to make cargo of human souls. Their delight is found in bringing into captive those who were once free.
What appears to be the Galatian problem? Apparently the believers in Galatia were being “troubled” (Gal. 5:12) by “false brethren” (Gal. 2:4). The agitation created by them was real (Gal. 4:17). They were “bewitched” (Gal. 3:1) into leaving their position of liberty to be once more entangled with the yoke of bondage (Gal. 5:1). Paul saw such a move as shocking (Gal. 1:6). Why would anyone abandon a position of liberty for one of bondage? They were running well (Gal. 5:7), but now were being “hindered” and thus “overtaken in a fault” (Gal. 6:1). Those who turned back had “fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:4) and needed to be “restored” (Gal. 6:1).
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