-Scripture:
Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate crowds? Or curry favor with God? Or get popular applause? If my goal was popularity, I wouldn’t bother being Christ’s slave. Know this—I am most emphatic here, friends—this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism. I didn’t receive it through the traditions, and I wasn’t taught it in some school. I got it straight from God, received the Message directly from Jesus Christ. I’m sure that you’ve heard the story of my earlier life when I lived in the Jewish way. In those days I went all out in persecuting God’s church. I was systematically destroying it. I was so enthusiastic about the traditions of my ancestors that I advanced head and shoulders above my peers in my career. Even then God had designs on me. Why, when I was still in my mother’s womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity! Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so that I might joyfully tell non-Jews about him.
Galatians 1:10–16 MSG
- Reflection:
As Per the Plan
When Christianity was just starting out, there was a man named Saul who did everything he could to fight against it. According to Jewish tradition and the Tanakh, many rules were derived from the Torah, "The Teachings of Moses." It seems that to Saul, these rules specifically instructed him to persecute anyone who didn't follow the same rules he did regarding God. Christianity was new, but it was gaining structure because of Jesus, who was changing how the Bible was being lived out. This angered the religious teachers. Saul was like a terrorist until a sudden light from Heaven struck him to the ground on the road to Damascus, and Jesus revealed Himself to him. That day was a turning point, and Saul eventually became the apostle Paul. If God based His will only on our decisions, Paul wouldn’t have had a chance. The beauty is that God has a sovereign will that overrides our choices and puts us into His purpose. It’s the goodness of God, stepping in and showing us mercy and love when we should have judgment. In Paul’s case, this sovereign act brought him into his destiny to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
Where do we go from here?
When you understand that God is sovereign, loving, and not basing everything on your choices, abilities, or background, you can stay in peace. Disappointments, losses, and bad breaks are all working according to the plan and purpose He decided long ago. You have to trust that He's sovereign even when you don't understand. So when Saul was causing pain for the early Christians, it was planned. Not the evil work that the man did, but the free will of that man to be and do what he thinks is right, only to be set straight by the Father himself. We do have free will, and when we use it to create disgrace, pain, and regret, God will still be there to redeem us, just as He did with Saul.
Our Prayer for Today
"Father, thank you for loving us and for never giving up on us when we've been off course and failed. Thank you for seeing a chosen vessel in Saul when he was persecuting the church, and for using us as your instruments too. We believe that you are leading us into our destiny. In Jesus' name, amen."
Coach Arthur Poston Jr.
Focused Development Organization
Middle School Coach