Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Galatians 1 "Pleasing Others"

In this chapter in the very beginning Paul talks again about how his is appointed by God, how his message is not his own and is not even human.  He received grace from God and now preaches the very message he once tried to destroy. 
Verse 10 is very interesting to me.  As Paul is talking about the message he is bringing he also says his main intention is to not preach so that he is liked by others he preaches because God calls him too.  Later in the chapter we learn that Paul is once again preaching and teaching the Galatians and they are a group of none Jews, Paul feels he has a gift to do this because he once was on their side of the fence.  What gets me is people in this world who, myself included, don't preach to others the Good news, they preach other good news, give people the wrong idea and those that rarely do show the Good news don't do it enough and though we are all great sinners it is hard for us to preach to those who aren't of faith to those who don't know Jesus.  Paul says, in my interpretation, in verse 10 if when we preach the Good news or in not preaching the Good news we are trying to please people then we are not serving the Lord.  I think it is better, though I don't always have the guts, to show the Good news to someone, in the right way, and have them hate you then to not share it at all.  Too often we trick ourselves into thinking that we don't share the Good news because we don't want to offend the other person, we don't want them to feel bad we want them to change we don't want to be the ones to tell them they aren't good enough when we have flaws too.  We tell ourselves we would be turning them from Jesus so we say nothing.  If we do it in the right way we can't push them from Christ even if they kill you they are closer to God in the long run, so pray you did do it right and then do it. 

1 comment:

  1. Well put Mr. Obermeier....I'm curious though now; and maybe some of this is coming from the sermon yesterday - but what should our intentions be now...I mean what do you plan to do differently (if anything)?

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