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Galatians 1:19 – The Lord’s Brother

Posted on August 7, 2007 by admin

Galatians 1:19

But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

Truth to Learn

While Paul was meeting with Peter he also saw the Apostle James.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul told us that three years after his conversion he went up to Jerusalem. Some of us get confused when we read “up to Jerusalem” because we tend to think of North as “up” and South as “down.” From Damascus to Jerusalem is a southerly direction, so we normally think of this as “down.” However … Jerusalem is up in the mountains and from most of Israel and Syria it involves travel up in elevation. Hence, we will often see the expression “up to Jerusalem” in both the Old and New Testaments.

Paul tells us that he did not meet with all the apostles who were in Jerusalem but only with Peter and James. The verb translated “I saw” is a form of the Greek word eido which is variously translated as “see” or “know.” In its use of seeing something it does not mean merely viewing something, but rather “perceiving”, that is, seeing it and understanding it. Paul met only with Peter and happened to see James while he was there.

Now, who is this James? There are several James’ mentioned in the New Testament and two of them were apostles of Jesus. The first was James the son of Zebedee (John’s brother) and the other was James the son of Alphaeus, who is referred to as James the less (meaning James the younger). James, the brother of John, was killed by Herod (see Acts 12:2), so this James must be James the younger. But, in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew’s gospel there is mention of James, Joses, Simon, and Judas as brothers of Jesus.

Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” (Matthew 13:55, 36)

There is strong evidence that the term “brothers” is used here to mean close relatives and that “sisters” is used in a similar manner to refer to close relatives who are female. According to the Apostle John in his gospel account, while Jesus was hanging on the cross, his mother Mary and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas were standing near Him.

Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25)

It is not likely that two daughters of the same parents were both named Mary. And yet, they are referred to as sisters.

Scripture indicates that this James is an apostle and, therefore, must be James the less, the son of Cleopas (also called Alphaeus) and Mary, who is a close relative to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Paul’s earlier point was that he did not receive the gospel message from mankind (including the apostles) and now he is pointing out that he only met with Peter and happened to see James while he was there.

(For a more thorough analysis of who this James is, see this author’s study on the book of James.)

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Galatians 1:18 – The Glorious Word

Posted on August 6, 2007 by admin

Galatians 1:18

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.

Truth to Learn

Paul preached the gospel message for three years before he sought the fellowship of the other Apostles. He didn’t need their teaching because he had been taught by the Word.

Behind the Words

The word translated “see” is not the normal Greek word that means “to view something.” It is the word historēsai which does not occur anywhere else in the New Testament. It means “to ascertain by personal inquiry and examination” or “to narrate, as a historian was accustomed to do.” It is the word from which we get our English word “history.”

Meaning Explained

As we learned in the previous verse, immediately after his conversion Paul began preaching the gospel message both in Damascus and in Arabia. He argued so forcefully against the Jews that they eventually plotted to kill him. Now we learn that after three years (from the time he first went to Damascus) he went up to Jerusalem to see Peter.

Paul did not simply go up to see what Peter looked like, he went to see Peter with the intention of getting to know him. But, he didn’t receive the gospel message from Peter. In fact, he was preaching the gospel for three years before he even met with Peter (and James, as we will see in the next verse.) The gospel Paul preached is the message that he received from Christ himself. In the opening verses of John’s gospel he says that Jesus Christ is “the Word.” Paul didn’t have a New Testament as we do, in fact he wrote nearly half of the New Testament. He received the message, the word, from the Word. Here’s how John said it in his gospel account:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

In the same way, we receive the message from the Word of God which Paul and others have written for us, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the living Word of God. He is the message that God loves us so much that He gave Jesus to die for our sins. He is the message, He is the gift, and He is the proof, all rolled up in one.

Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and was blinded by his glory. As soon as he received his sight again, however, Paul quit his self-absorbed persecution of Christians and began preaching that he had seen the light, the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ.

Application

We need to be in the Word regularly to learn about Christ and the good news of his death, burial, and resurrection. If we are not getting our message directly from the Word, then we are getting it from flesh and blood and no matter how good a preacher is, he is still a fallible human being. That is not to say that we shouldn’t listen to good preaching, we should listen intently, but we should also verify that what we are learning from men is the same as what God says in the Holy Bible.

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Galatians 1:17 – Arabian Preacher

Posted on August 2, 2007 by admin

Galatians 1:17

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Truth to Learn

We need to let God lead us in using the unique talents and training He has given us.

Meaning Explained

Paul has already told us that he didn’t confer with flesh and blood to receive the gospel message that he was to deliver to the Gentiles. He said he received it directly from the Lord himself. He now tells us that neither did he go to Jerusalem to get it from those who were apostles before he was.

At the time of Paul’s conversion the church was centered at Jerusalem where the apostles first received the Spirit of God on the day of Pentecost. Until the time of persecution that Paul was an integral part of, the church remained there and the apostles stayed together. Even though Paul was converted, the persecution continued and eventually the Christians in Jerusalem were forced to leave, taking the gospel message with them. James (the younger) remained in Jerusalem and became the leader of the church there, along with Peter and perhaps a few others of the apostles.

After Paul was converted, instead of going to the apostles in Jerusalem, he immediately began preaching in the synagogues in Damascus. We see the described in Acts chapter 9:

So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. (Acts 9:19-20)

From there Paul went into Arabia. We don’t know where in Arabia he went but it is quite possible that he went to the Eastern side of the Jordan River to the areas known as Trachonitis and Decapolis. There is no direct evidence what he did there but it is likely that he preached the gospel there to anyone who was willing to listen.

Then Paul returned to Damascus and continued to preach the message he had received from God. He was so well versed in the Jewish religion and, now that he understood the truth about Jesus Christ being the long awaited Messiah, he was a powerful preacher of the Word. So powerful, in fact, that the Jews could not refute his logic. As a result, they plotted to kill him:

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. (Acts 9:22, 23)

God used the upbringing and training that Paul obtained in his youth to take the message to the Jews (and later to the Gentiles) in a way that no Gentile could possibly have done.

Application

Each one of us has unique skills and training and we need to let God direct us in using our background and experience to build up the body of Christ. People who you work with and who live around you may not go to church and you may be the only source of the gospel message for them. If you are a silent witness, they may never hear.

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Galatians 1:16 – Illuminated Direction

Posted on August 1, 2007 by admin

Galatians 1:16

to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

Truth to Learn

God has a plan for each person in the body of Christ and He will reveal that plan to us, if we are willing to listen to Him.

Behind the Words

The word translated “confer” is prosanatithēmi, which is made up of pros, meaning “beside” or “in addition to” and anatithēmi, meaning “to lay-up” (as thoughts are laid-up between people.) Hence, this word means “to have a conversation or an exchange of ideas with someone.”

Meaning Explained

In order to understand this verse we have to include the first part of the previous verse, which applies to what is being said here. Taking out the parenthetical expression, “who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace” we get, “But when it pleased God to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,”

There is some confusion about the expression “to reveal His Son in me.” The words translated “in me” are the Greek words en emoi which can literally be translated as “in me.” But these same two words are used elsewhere in the scriptures to mean “to me.” An example is 1 Corinthians 14:11 which says:

Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.

Therefore, it is possible that Paul’s meaning is: God the Father, at His own good pleasure, revealed His Son to Paul as an act of grace, not as a result of his seeking Him (for clearly Paul was not seeking God at the time).

As more evidence that this is what Paul intended, look at:

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

It is God’s shining in our hearts that gives us the knowledge and faith to believe. And Paul, immediately upon having had Christ revealed to him, while still in the presence of the Lord on the road to Damascus, asked the Lord what he should do.

So I said, “What shall I do, Lord?” And the Lord said to me, “Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.” (Acts 22:10)

Apparently it was while he was in Damascus and later in Arabia that Paul learned the difference between the legalistic, tradition based religion that he had been previously pursuing and true Christianity.

Notice that Paul did not know what to do after he was saved so he asked God for guidance and upon receiving it, he followed it as zealously as he had persecuted the faith previously.

Application

Do you know what God wants you to do? If not, have you asked him?

And, are you willing to do whatever it is that He wants you to do?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Galatians 1:15 – A Called One

Posted on July 31, 2007 by admin

Galatians 1:15

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,

Truth to Learn

We have been called by God to serve Him.

Behind the Words

The word translated “separated” is a form of the Greek word aphoridzō which is a compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and the verb horidzō, which means “to define.” Hence, aphoridzō means “to separate” or “to set-apart for a particular office or work.”

Meaning Explained

On the surface, this verse seems to say one thing when, in fact, it is saying something entirely different. The expression, “separated me from my mother’s womb” appears to be a reference to God being in control of Paul’s birth. But, Paul is not saying that God was responsible for, or participated in, his birth, but that from the time he was born, God set Paul apart for a particular work, spreading the gospel to the Gentiles.

If you look at Ephesians 1:4, 5 you will see that God chooses each one of us to be holy and blameless in his sight.

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Ephesians 1:4, 5)

God does not simply choose us to be his children, he sets us apart. The word holy means “set apart.” Just like Paul, you and I have been chosen and have been set-apart. And, not only did God set Paul apart for the ministry of Gentile evangelism but he also “called” him to the task, and we have also been called by God to serve Him, as Paul tells us in Romans chapter 8.

In Paul’s case, this setting-apart and calling is referenced in the first verse of the book of Romans:

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God (Romans 1:1)

And later, as part of their commissioning by the church at Antioch, Paul and Barnabas were to be set-apart to the task that God had already called them to:

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. (Acts 13:2)

Paul was called and set-apart for a specific ministry. He was obedient and he turned the world upside down.

Application

Every Christian has been chosen by God, separated from the remainder of mankind, and called to serve and obey our Lord and Master. And, according to Paul in the current verse, and in Ephesians 1:5 quoted above, this separating and calling is according to God’s choosing, “according to the good pleasure of His will,” not according to what we want to do.

God is the one who does the calling. How we choose to respond to that calling is up to us.

How have you responded to God’s calling in your life?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Galatians 1:14 – Zealous Student

Posted on July 30, 2007 by admin

Galatians 1:14

And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Truth to Learn

Religious zeal is good, but only if applied to the God’s truth.

Behind the Words

The word translated “contemporaries” (translated as “equals” in some versions) is from the Greek word sunēlikiōtēs. This is a compound word made up of sun, meaning “together” and hēlikiōtēs, which means “one of the same age.” So Paul is saying that he advanced in Judaism beyond many of the young men of his own age.

Meaning Explained

As Paul continues to share his conversion testimony with the Christians in the churches of Galatia, he tells them that not only was he one who persecuted the church, but that he did so because of the zeal he had to do the things he had learned.

He tells us in the current verse that he advanced beyond many of his contemporaries. Paul began studying the religion of his father at a very young age and even though he was born in Tarsus, his parents sent him to Jerusalem as a boy to study under the great Rabbi Gamaliel where he was tops in his class.

In the next part of this verse Paul tells us why he advanced beyond his classmates, “being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” Paul was determined to learn as much as he could about Judaism. He didn’t just sit in the pew each Sabbath singing the songs with everyone else and listening to the reading of the scripture and the teaching of the rabbis, then going on living his life the way he wanted to the rest of the week. He listened intently to the teaching, he took notes, he re-read the scriptures during the week and reviewed his notes. He applied himself and put into practice the things he learned.

This sounds all well and good, and many Christians today do the same thing, being zealous in pursuing all that the preacher says each Sunday. But Paul tells us in the end of this verse that it was not the truth of the Scriptures that he was zealous about it was, “the traditions of my fathers.” You see, the Jews had the written scriptures (we refer to it as the Old Testament) but they also had the “oral tradition.” In Paul’s day these oral traditions were not written down, but kept by the leaders of Judaism and handed down from Rabbi to Rabbi. By the first century AD, they had taken on greater importance than the written law. They even sprinkled in quotations from the written law, taken out of context and often misquoted, with the intent of giving their oral traditions more importance. This is also true of many of the teachings today in churches across this land and around the world. If you read the gospel accounts very carefully, however, you will see that the thing which Jesus repeatedly confronted the Sadducees and Pharisees about was their adherence to the oral traditions, rather than the written law.

Challenge

“Are you zealous about learning all you can from the teachers in your church, with a strong desire to live what is being taught?” Paul was, and you should be too.

But … “Are you being taught the truths of God’s word, or are you being taught the traditions of men?”

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Galatians 1:13 – Violent Persecution

Posted on July 26, 2007 by admin

Galatians 1:13

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.

Truth to Learn

Sometimes those who hate Christians the most become vibrant witnesses for faith in Jesus Christ.

Behind the Words

“Conduct” is translated from the Greek noun anastrophē, which is taken from the verb anastrephō. This verb is made up of ana, which means “up” or “again” and strephō, which means “to turn.” Hence, the verb literally means “to turn again” or “to return.” By interpretation, it refers to “moving about in a place” or “dwelling in a place.” Therefore, the noun form, anastrophē, refers to a person’s “manner of living” or “personal conduct.”

The word translated “beyond measure” is huperbolē, which is a compound word made up of huper (or hyper), meaning “over” and a form of ballō, meaning “to throw.” So it literally means, “to throw over” or “to throw beyond.” By interpretation it means “exceedingly much.” This is the word from which we get our English word hyperbole which means to exaggerate.

Meaning Explained

Paul now begins to share a testimony of his early years as a Christian with the believers in Galatia as further evidence that he received not only his calling, but also the gospel message, directly from Christ himself. He will also point out later in this testimony that he personally confronted the apostle Peter and the leaders of the church in Jerusalem because they were trying to impose legalistic practices on the believers.

Paul starts out his testimony with the statement “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism.” Either Paul had shared this testimony with them previously or he knew that others had informed them of his former religious practices. He tells us that when he was a believer in the Jewish faith he persecuted Christians exceedingly as we see in the eighth and ninth chapters of Acts:

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. (Acts 8:3)

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1, 2)

Paul was one of the most zealous persecutors of the early church. He felt as if it was His calling in life to destroy those who believed in Jesus Christ. Isn’t it amazing how God will take a person who is openly and violently opposed to the gospel message and turns them around to become evangelistically on fire for Him?

Application

Remember Paul’s background the next time you are verbally or physically attacked for sharing the gospel. Instead of getting angry at the one who attacks you, perhaps you should pray that God will touch their heart and use them for His glory.

That’s something to think about, isn’t it?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Galatians 1:12 – Message From God

Posted on July 25, 2007 by admin

Galatians 1:12

For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Truth to Learn

The gospel message which Paul so faithfully preached came from God, not from man.

Meaning Explained

Paul now informs the Galatian Christians that the truth of the gospel that he has been preaching did not come from another man, he was not taught the gospel by someone else but by direct revelation from Jesus Christ. It is true that Paul learned Judaism from someone else. He was, in fact, a student of the famed Rabbi Gamaliel, one of the greatest teachers in Judaism of his day, as he told the Jews in the Temple after being seized there.

I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. (Acts 22:3)

It may be argued that Paul was taught by Ananias who laid his hands on Paul to give him back his sight after having encountered the Lord in the road to Damascus, but there is no scriptural evidence to this. In fact, immediately after Ananias restored Paul’s (Saul’s) sight Ananias said this.

Then he said, “The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.” (Acts 22:14)

In the same 22^nd chapter of Acts, as Paul continued to testify to the Jews in the Temple, he declared how the Lord spoke directly to him.

Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him saying to me, “Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.”’

So I said, “Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.”

Then He said to me, “Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.” (Acts 22:17-20)

Later on in this part of Galatians Paul will explain how he spent several years in Arabia. It was possibly during this time that Christ appeared to him again and taught him the truths that he was to communicate to the world.

The point is that neither did Paul make-up his own gospel message nor did he declare a message taught to him by another man, and he certainly didn’t declare a message from an angel of heaven. Paul proclaimed God’s message to the world and we are to proclaim God’s message to the world today.

Application

Our words and actions declare what we truly believe. What message do others get from you? Is it a worldly message, a message of man, or God’s message?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Galatians 1:11 – A Divine Message

Posted on July 24, 2007 by admin

Galatians 1:11

But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.

Truth to Learn

The gospel truth is not of man or angel, it is divinely given.

Behind the Words

The words “make known” are translated from gnōridzō which is here expressed in the present tense, active voice, and indicative mood, indicating present, continuous action. Hence, it could be translated, “I am making known.”

Meaning Explained

Paul has been teaching the Christians of Galatia that they should not be swayed to believe any gospel message if it is different than what Paul and the other apostles taught. The false teachers who had crept into the churches in that region had been teaching that Christians were to keep the requirements of the Law of Moses in order to be truly saved. These teachers very likely had been brought up in the Jewish religion and truly believed that Christianity was simply another sect of Judaism. They may have been quite sincere in their beliefs but Paul says they were sincerely wrong.

Apparently, some even claimed that they had received revelation from angels of heaven regarding the false teachings they were promoting. But back in verse 8 Paul told the Galatians that even if an angel from heaven delivered a different message that what Paul had taught that angelic messenger was to be accursed. Notice, that Paul did not say an angel from God, but an angel from heaven. If you study the Bible carefully you will see that there are good angels (angels from God) and bad angels, or fallen angels, who follow their leader Satan. These are angels from heaven but they are not from God and they are not to be believed.

Paul warned the believers in Corinth about false teachers like this who do not follow the truths of God, but make themselves to be just as authoritative as the apostles of Christ. And he points out that it is not surprising that they present themselves as something other than what they really are, since their leader, Satan, also makes himself appear as an angel of light.

But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:12-14)

In the current verse Paul tells the Galatians that the gospel message that he has preached to them did not come from the mind of man or from an angel. In the following verses he will substantiate this claim and demonstrate that it is a message from Jesus Christ himself. His point is that any good news about salvation which is different from the good news of Christ is not really good news at all. It is deception and we need to guard ourselves from believing that kind of message.

Application

Fewer and fewer churches today have ministers who preach the pure truth of God’s Word. This is partly because fewer and fewer people want to hear the truth. Instead, they want to hear “feel good” messages.

Do you want to hear from God or man?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Galatians 1:10 – No Please

Posted on July 23, 2007 by admin

Galatians 1:10

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Truth to Learn

Our focus in our faith walk should not be to please others, it should be to submit ourselves as God’s slaves.

Behind the Words

The word translated “persuade” is the Greek word peitho which means “to persuade another to receive a belief,” that is, “to convince.” But it can also mean, “to win over, gain the favor of, or make a friend of.” It is this latter sense of the word that I believe Paul was referring to.

“Please” is translated from a form of the Greek word areskō, meaning “to soften one’s heart towards another” or “to please.”

The word translated “still” is eti, meaning “any longer, with regard to time or duration.”

Meaning Explained

This verse is confusing to many, but that confusion may be cleared up by looking at a couple of words, “persuade” and “please”. Paul did indeed put great effort into persuading people to believe the gospel. In fact, when Paul presented his defense against the accusations of the Jews before King Agrippa, the king’s response was,

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” (Acts 26:28)

Paul was very persuasive. Therefore, his intent with the opening sentence of this verse could be to say, “I persuade men, not God,” which is true. But in the following sentence he asks, “do I seek to please men?” Now, to persuade and to please are two different and unrelated actions. But if Paul’s intent in the first sentence is, “Do I try to make friends with men, or with God?” Then the next sentence, “Or do I seek to please men?” becomes a parallel thought, which is the type of reasoning that Paul makes frequent use of. So, we could translate the first part of this verse as “For do I now seek to gain favor with men, or with God? Or do I seek to please men?”

Another key to the understanding of this verse is the fact that Paul says, “do I now …” and “if I still pleased men.” Before Paul’s conversion he was a Pharisee and that’s exactly what he did. As part of his training to be a Pharisee in Judaism Paul put forth a great deal of effort to please and impress men (and to please God). Now that he is a Christian, however, he no longer is trying to please men or God. Instead, he has become a bondservant, that is, a slave, the owned property, of God. Hence, his focus is no longer on pleasing men or God by following man-made rules. Instead, his only objective is submitting his will to his Lord and Master.

Application

Are you still trying to please the people around you, your friends, your parents, members of your church, or God?

If so, your focus is in the wrong place.

Instead, you should be focused entirely on submitting to your Lord and Master!

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –