The morning has whispered around the house in quiet, peaceful, gray tones with a dash of hush and spring fog. Birds chirp enthusiasm about this new day and the notes drift in the open windows.
Inside, my daughter and I warble a few lines of Boz’s song.
“Open your eyes to God’s surprise,
Wake up! Get up!
It’s time to rise!
He made a gift that is just your size,
Surprise! It’s a brand new day!
Put on some happy clothes to show your happy heart,
Each day is a special gift and this one’s about to start!”
I venture out to capture a few photos of blooms against the canvas of the morning with our farm as a backdrop.
I read aloud from Galatians, verses I’ve long loved. Stepping to my bookshelves, I pull out another Bible to read the translation in it.
Paul feels strongly about sharing HOW the gospel of Jesus came to him. I can feel it. His deep love, affection, and commitment to truth, to God, to Jesus Christ alone. He wants us to grasp it too. Not for Paul’s personal fame or fortune, power or prestige.
But because Jesus alone is life.
Paul “had it all” in human terms, his Jewish world. Blameless in the law. A Hebrew born of Hebrews. Of the tribe of Benjamin. Zealous. Circumcised the eighth day. A Pharisee.
Yet because of Jesus Christ, everything that was considered gain to him, he counted as loss.
Galatians 1:10-12
“For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not a human origin. For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 1:10-12
“Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate the 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.”
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2021
