“Not Until You’re Old Enough” – Galatians 4:1-5

Galatians 4:1-5
 
“I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
 
“I’m tired of being told what I can and can’t do. It’s not fair. I can’t wait until I’m a grown up and I can do whatever I want!” This is a sentiment that I’d bet every child has expressed at least once on their way to adulthood. It’s human nature to want what we want and buck those that would hold us from such freedoms. 
 
Paul is tapping into that very human understanding by comparing the constraints on children to the same as that of slaves – that pragmatically there’s no difference. And once we’re on the other side of childhood we understand the need for the guardrails that surrounded us and gave us a safe environment to learn and prepare for the relative freedom that we now enjoy. 
 
Children during Paul’s time didn’t have access to their inheritance or rights until they were of age. And God sent his Son at just the right time to bring about this new age. A transition from the age of the law as guardian, to an age of inheritance, and freedom and adoption into His family. 
 

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:  

  • As a child, what freedoms did you look forward to once you would become an adult? 
  • What are some freedoms you now enjoy as an adopted heir into the family of God?  

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 

Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you respond? 
 

 

 

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“The One and Only” – 1 Timothy 2:5-6

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”

A mediator is someone brought in to a conflict to negotiate between two parties with the goal of healing and reconciliation. Because of sin, humanity severed it’s relationship with a holy God, and a mediator was needed to bring about restoration. 
Paul explains in this passage that Jesus was the only one who could act as mediator. His unique qualifications – being both God (holy and without sin) and man (flesh and blood identifying with all of humanity) allowed him to stand as a go between. And in order to bring about this reconciliation, he went further than any mediator has ever been willing to go. He gave his own sinless life as a ransom to purchase our freedom from sin, and restored us into a right relationship with the Father.   
 
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:  
  • Have you ever acted as a mediator, possibly with family or friends? Were you able to bring reconciliation? How does that experience compare or contrast with Jesus as mediator? 
  • Take some time to reflect on what it means that Jesus was and is our mediator. This passage follows a request from Paul for prayer. How does Jesus as mediator fit into our prayer life?   
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you respond? 

arbitrator by twenty20photos

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“Context is King” Part 1

Knowing the context to any conversation or message can help us avoid misunderstandings and potentially huge mistakes. How many times have you heard half of a conversation and your assumptions to fill in the gaps led you down the wrong path? Knowing who said what to whom and for what reason can help us appreciate the true intent and meaning of what is said. 
 
It’s the same when we read scripture. Knowing who wrote the text, to whom it was written and the circumstances behind it are a great place to start in understanding a passage. Many a high school football player has stepped onto the field claiming, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) And half as many have walked off the field at the end of the night wondering why God lied to them. But author and audience are only a couple examples of context. 
 
Looking at the cultural context will give us a completely different understanding of a text at times. When we read Romans 12:20-21 through our own filter, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head,” those of us with a more vindictive nature might see it as license to give our enemies what they truly deserve. But the cultural context is far different. One of the important responsibilities of the woman of the house was to keep an eye on the fire. The fire was used not only to cook but to provide light and heat during the night. To let it go out was a dereliction of duty and it was a humiliating admission for the woman to have to go to a neighbor asking for coals to start it back up. Paul was encouraging believers from an earlier proverb to be generous and restore the dignity (save face) of even their enemies. What a beautiful (and vastly different) message when we understand the cultural context. 
 
For a further look on context (physical, digital or audio), I recommend Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes, by Richards and O’Brien as an introduction. 
For an oldie but a goodie, check out the ever hilarious “Wayside Chapel” context mixup.
 

 

 

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“I’ll Take it From Here” – Galatians 3:23-26

Galatians 3:23-26

“Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

I remember before I was a teenager, my mom had to continually remind me to take a shower. Washing was a waste of my precious time, until the day came that I realized I liked girls – and girls don’t like guys that smell like a dumpster. Mom no longer needed to remind me because I was now motivated to cleanse. 

I wonder, as a teenager or adult, do you still need someone to hold your hand as you cross the road?  Does someone need to tell you not to touch a hot stove? Like most people, you no longer need a mom, dad, grandparent or nanny to remind you of these things because your own mature, moral conscience has taken over.

Paul says that the law was a guardian, or full time nanny who was a moral guide that took care of us until something else, something better took its place, which is Christ. The law showed us God’s moral design and kept us in a parameter (we weren’t good at following its guidance) until Jesus came and said, “Law, thank you for taking care of Stephen Williams and showing him the moral way to go, but I will take it from here.”  

You see, the law was good – but not good enough. As matter of fact, the law was never designed to make us righteous. The law could show us what is right and guilt us into compliance, but Jesus made us righteous through His blood and gives us the motivation for righteousness. 
 
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:  
  • What did you constantly have to be reminded of as a child to do (or not do?) Share in the comments below. 
  • How have your earlier lessons on behavior shaped the person you are today? 
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you respond? 

A big thank you to Pastor Stephen who provided today’s post



“I’ll Take it From Here” – Galatians 3:23-26 Read More »

“Plot Twist” – Galatians 3:22

Galatians 3:22
 
“But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” 
 
“Soylent Green is People!
Soylent Green is People!” 
 
If you haven’t seen the 1973 Charlton Heston thriller, “Soylent Green,” I’m sorry to spoil the ending, but since it is supposed to take place in two years, consider yourself forewarned. Set in dystopian New York City 2022, resources are drained and poverty and overpopulation lead to daily riots. People are reliant on nutritional wafers called Soylent Green. Heston’s character, detective Thorn goes through the movie trying to figure out the source to this much needed and sought after nutrient, finally tracking it to a euthanasia center and discovering the terrible secret that what the public thought was a blessing that brought life, was actually a monstrous recipe created from death. 
 
In a similar fashion Paul is revealing the purpose of the law, “The law is a prison! The law is a prison!” What the Judaizers thought would bring life, actually trapped everyone because of their sin. This was the plot twist for those relying on the law. 
 
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:  
  • What have you relied on in the past that let you down or turned out to be something other than what you thought it was? 
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you respond? 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

“Plot Twist” – Galatians 3:22 Read More »

“What ever for?” – Galatians 3:19-21

Galatians 3:19-21

“Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.” 
 
When I was a kid, I remember asking my parents in all sincerity why God created ants and mosquitos, weeds and snakes, spiders and sharks, sickness and broccoli. All these, in my limited knowledge, served no other purpose than annoyance, pain or even death. Even as an adult, there are times when I wonder at the back of my mind if some things in our world have slipped past God’s attention, something that serves no apparent redeeming purpose – the suffering of a saint, terrorist attacks, The Bachelor.  
 
With all Paul’s ranting against the law, he finally asks the question aloud that every Galatian by this point must be asking. “Why then the law?” If it’s so bad, why did God even create it? 
 
Paul explains that the law was given to make man aware of his sin, that sin was an affront to God and would incur His wrath.  The law was not an avenue to righteousness, which made it subordinate to the blessing, and was only temporary until Christ came and made good on the promise.  
 
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:  
  • What’s something you’ve wondered about as to why it exists?  
  • Once you are made aware that something is wrong or against the rules, do you tend to steer clear or push the boundaries?  
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you respond? 
 
 

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