Here's Some Good News!

I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News  but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. Galatians 1:6-7 (NLT2)

When I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God.  My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. Galatians 2:19-21 (NLT2)

I wonder what kind of letter the Apostle Paul would write to the church in America today?   Have we exchanged the truth for a lie?  Is Christianity just a bunch of things we do?   If I go to a Christian church, does that make me a Christian?   If I attend Bible study and pray daily, does that make me a Christian?  If I hold a position of leadership in a church, does that make me a Christian?  

I think Paul was noticing that the church was moving away from a daily walk with Christ and exchanging it for a daily routine filled with acceptable behavior.  The routine was becoming more important to them than the presence and leadership of Jesus in their lives.  Ultimately they were living lives that focused more on their activity in the world than on God's activity inside of them.  

For Paul, it wasn't what the church was doing that was the problem.  It was why they were doing it.   Think of it like this, Pharisees studied God's Word, tithed, went to the temple, taught biblical truths, helped the poor, etc. but they did it in order to somehow become more acceptable to God by following rules.   Jesus came to show them a better way.   Paul found that way and wants each of us to find it as well.  

I say all of that to say this.  I can do the things I do today because I know I'm supposed to or I can die to that formula and instead, simply allow Christ to live in me.   By trusting Him as we experience life together I will not have to be concerned about whether or not I am accepable to anyone.   Life becomes an adventure filled with successes, failures, temptations, trials, sorrows, joy and everything else this world has to offer.   What makes it an adventure is following Jesus through every circumstance and knowing that God's purposes for me unfold as I trust in Him.   That's the Good News!   Don't miss it today!