Morning Moments

A. By His Commission 1:1
Paul makes it perfectly clear that his apostleship did not come from man but from God. The word apostle simply means "one sent". Anyone can claim to be sent from or speak for God, but Paul knew that the Scripture taught that if one did not speak according to God's Word he was to be rejected. The same is true today. Be careful of those who take Scripture out of context to use as a pretext. Far too many are listening to and following false teachers because they cannot discern TRUTH.

B. By His Companions 1:2
Paul does not name those who were with him here, but the Galatians knew who had accompanied him on his journeys to them. It has always seemed strange to me that men of God whom God has used to change the course of human history with the Word of God, and whose teaching and preaching impacted the world in which they lived; men whose lives exemplified holiness and honor of God's Word have to be replaced by so many of today's charlatans. If it is true it is not new; If it is new it is not true. There is sometimes new light on old truth but no new truth.

C. By His Compassion 1:3
Who cared more for these believers than Paul? Certainly not those who wanted to exploit them and draw them from liberty to bondage. His prayer for them was grace - that which is given out of the generosity of a compassionate heart to one who does not deserve it. This grace comes from The Father and The Son, Jesus Christ. He also prays for peace for them, which is not merely the cessation of conflict, but a calmness of spirit, mind, and emotions in the midst of spiritual battle.

D. By His Concentration 1:4-5
Paul always remained focused. He was a concentrated man. He said, "This one thing I do..." to the Philippians (3:13). He did not allow himself to get off track which is a good lesson for us all. Notice:

1. Upon the Gospel 1:4
His ministry was never about Paul. It was not about amassing a fortune for himself, a false ministry of some today. It was not about building a reputation for himself or establishing a kingdom for himself, or exalting himself as some super saint of some kind. No! No! No! His focus was always upon the Gospel.

2. Upon the Glory 1:5
Paul had known glory in his life and learned the emptiness of it. When the Lord Jesus changed his life on the road to Damascus, Paul discovered that life was no longer about his glory, but the Glory of God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. That is what he longed for and all he lived for.

BLESSINGS!