Morning Moments

B. Vanity 6:12-13

12. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

As I read this verse I think about so many "church people" who almost look down their noses at those of us who are on the firing line for Jesus. They want to appear to be "religious" but don't want to be criticized for their faith so they remain in neutral about it. They live their lives in the comfort zone. Oh, they want you to come to church. They invite their friends to the cantatas and all the special events, but they would not have a clue how to invite anyone to Jesus, and wouldn't anyway because they might be embarrassed.

Jesus spoke of these when He said, "If you will not confess ME before men I will not confess you before my Father in Heaven. If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you." The talk about "God", the Man upstairs, the good Lord, but somehow the confession of JESUS evades them. They wish to make a fair show in the flesh as Paul says. They want to "constrain" you to go to church, tithe, and on and on, but they do not with to appear "radical" with this "Jesus" thing.

13. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

These are they who have been members of this "church" all their lives. Their parents were and maybe their grandparents. They may be charter members and "this is the way we have always done thing here, so if you don't like the way we do things, move on. The fact is they glory in the flesh. This business makes God sick and it should make all of us who love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ sick too. It is phony and superficial and of the flesh, not of the Spirit. They are proud that this is THEIR church. The Lord has departed from such places and it is no wonder that they go through the motions DEAD while living.

C. Virtue 6:14-17

As the apostle closes this marvelous letter, he does so in a most unusual way. He sums up his letter in what I see as words of virtue or moral excellence. He makes it clear that his heart is for the Father, His Son, the Church, Israel, and simply asks that he not be troubled about this subject again.

14. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

There is no glory, praise, honor, worthiness apart from what Jesus did by taking our sins upon Him at Calvary. He bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we being dead to sin should live no longer in them. Paul understood that as clearly as any man could. He further understood all the ramifications of that death in that it meant separation from the world's way of thinking and living. It meant that the philosophies he once studied and valued were nothing anymore. The education at the feet of Gamaliel were not what he prided himself in anymore.

Think about this, dear friend. Think about all the things that we are so proud of - the degrees hanging on our walls, the awards, the fraternities we are a part of, the schools we attended, our accomplishments along the way. The truth is that they can be mere flesh feeders. "If any man glory, let him glory in the Lord."

I remember years ago among Southern Baptists it use to be, "Which of the six seminaries did you graduate from?" There is nothing wrong with being thankful that God gave you the opportunity to gain a good education, and I am thankful I have one, but I like what old Methodist evangelist Sam Jones use to say, "I'd rather know my 'abc's in Heaven than Hebrew and Greek in Hell." Sometimes the more we know the more we argue and the less spiritual and practical we become.

15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Take this same principle about anything. It is the change life that really counts, not merely the changed mind. A young lady can change her mind about loving a guy and marry him anyway and be miserable for years. Head knowledge puffs up and if whatever knowledge you and I possess merely puffs us up, it is fleshy and not spiritual.

Paul was making it clear that no ritual, no form of worship, no liturgy, no teaching that contradicts the change of life that Jesus Christ brings into our lives is to be accepted. In other words if your gift, whatever it might be feeds YOUR pride rather than humbling you at the grace of God and bringing HIM the glory, you have missed it.

16. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

The is the rule: "That we glorify God and enjoy Him forever" as Spurgeon said. Then Paul pronounces peace and mercy upon those who are true Israel, the descendants of Abraham by faith.

17. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Who had the right to speak as Paul? He bore in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus. He could have maintained a safe position of neutrality and used his "influence" as a "pharisee among pharisees" to perhaps win some to Christ. BUT GOD had separated him from his mother's womb to preach the Gospel. He was born to be a "firebrand". Paul could never have remained neutral for he was a man of great passion. He fought hard, he love hard, he believed hard, and he worked hard, but he took no glory for himself. HE GAVE ALL THE GLORY TO HIM TO WHOM ALL GLORY BELONGS! Amen!

It is my prayer that these Morning Moments in Galatians have been a blessing to you.

BLESSINGS!