Our scripture this morning is Galatians 1:10-12 (NLT).
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
Paul didn’t care what people thought of him, only that they heard the Good News and accepted Christ as their savior. Some labeled him a people pleaser but he refutes that argument by sharing that he received his call directly from Jesus Himself. I know what sharing one’s call story is like, both humbling and inspiring at the same time.
There were other traveling evangelists during this time and some taught that you must become Jewish in order to be a Christian. Paul spoke against this at every opportunity, even to Peter when he wavered on eating with Gentile believers (Galatians 2:11-15). Paul preached that the only thing that mattered was our faith, not any action we can perform.
He also speaks to a problem we still encounter, writing “the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning”, as if we could create or understand by our own knowledge God’s wonderful plan and care for us. God wants us to know that there is something better waiting for us. Asking His forgiveness and going in His name is our only hope of salvation.
Gracious God, in your mercy You sent Jesus to be our Savior, teaching us the way of love. Help us to share this gift with all our brothers and sisters everywhere. Amen.
