living by faith

Finishing Strong

Readings for today: Galatians 3-4, Psalms 6

“After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3 CSB) I have to admit these words hit hard this morning. I look in the mirror and I see a man who constantly wants to live by his own strength, make decisions according to his own wisdom, and lean on his own understanding in life. I have been blessed with an exceptional education and I get to serve in a community filled with amazingly gifted people. The church I have the privilege of pastoring is passionate about the gospel, generous to a fault, and makes a huge impact both locally and globally. With all the gifts and resources at my disposal, it is so tempting to start relying on myself rather than on God.

Paul knows what he’s talking about. He was one of the most gifted people in his generation. As a Jew, Paul was born into faith. He was raised from day one to love God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. He was taught the Scriptures from an early age and participated in all the ancient traditions of his spiritual fathers and mothers. As a Pharisee, Paul was an expert in God’s Law. He had the entire Old Testament memorized. He was zealous for his faith, even to the point of persecuting those he considered a threat. As a Roman citizen, Paul had access and opportunity to travel all over the empire without fear. He was in a protected class of people. He clearly had exposure to a Hellenistic education. He was able to quote pagan philosophers along with the Scriptures. As a literal tent maker, Paul was economically independent. He didn’t need to rely on anyone to provide for himself. But Paul considered all of this as “loss” for the sake of knowing Christ. Paul knew none of his abilities or qualifications mattered when it came to his faith. He was saved by grace. He lived by grace. And he would finish his race by grace. This is why he so passionately confronts the Galatian Christians. He doesn’t want them turning back from grace and trying to live by their own works.

If you are like me, you were raised to work hard. Provide for yourself by the sweat of your brow. Put your hand to the plow. No such thing as a free lunch. Reject handouts in favor of a hand up. These are things that were instilled in me from a very young age and they are good. They often lead to great success in life. But they are not the kind of qualities God is looking for from His people. God wants us to live by grace. He wants us to understand there is nothing we can do to earn our way into His Kingdom. Nothing we need to do to earn His love and favor. It is by grace alone that we’ve been saved, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. This is the message of the gospel and it cuts against the grain of our sinful human nature that always wants to go it alone or rely on self to get by. Don’t be foolish. Don’t try to live from your own strength. Heed the words of Paul. “All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse.” (Galatians 3:10 CSB) They are cursed because righteousness does not come through our obedience but only through the obedience of Christ on our behalf. This is why Scripture declares that the righteous shall live by faith and it’s why Scripture lifts up the many men and women who lived by faith over the centuries.

Readings for tomorrow: Galatians 5-6, Psalms 7

Sticking with Jesus

Readings for today: 2 Timothy 1-4

All of us stake our life on something. All of us hold to a particular worldview. All of us live by a particular code of ethics. Unexamined or not, every decision we make and every action we take is rational within the particular framework through which we view life. Many people confuse rationality with objectivity but this is a mistake. It’s not possible for human beings to be “objective” because it is impossible for us to stand outside our own life experiences and cultural context. Just as a fish doesn’t recognize the water it’s swimming in, we are unable to see or fully grasp all of the forces that influence how we think, feel, or act in a given moment.

What we believe informs what we decide. What we decide informs how we feel. And our decisions and feelings don’t just impact our lives but the lives of those around us as well. For those who hold a certain level of authority and/or power within a family or organization or particular sphere like politics, beliefs can have a significant ripple effect for good or evil. Think about a group like Hamas. Because they do not believe in the value of human life, they use innocents as human shields, divert resources that otherwise would go to better the lives of Palestinians into a terror infrastructure, and they use rape and torture and kidnapping to hold the world hostage. These decisions are rational within their perverted framework even though most of the rest of the world condemns their actions.

The Apostle Paul is operating out of a particular framework as well. And before he dies, he wants to pass it on to his protege, Timothy. “Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It’s what you’ve heard from me all along. It’s what I’m sitting in jail for right now…so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory. This is a sure thing: If we die with him, we’ll live with him; If we stick it out with him, we’ll rule with him; If we turn our backs on him, he’ll turn his back on us; If we give up on him, he does not give up— for there’s no way he can be false to himself.” (2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭13‬ ‭MSG‬‬) He knows Timothy will face persecution. He knows Timothy will be attacked by those inside as well as outside the church. He knows Timothy will face hardship and suffering. The only way Timothy will persevere is if he keeps his mind and heart set on Christ. If Timothy sticks with Jesus, it will be worth it in the end.

What about you? What do you believe? What worldview do you hold to? What framework do you use when making your decisions? What have you staked your life on? Are you sticking with Jesus or have you placed your trust in something or someone else?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Peter 1-3, Jude