Galatians 4:1-7 - The ESV continues the 'guardian' theme here, relating it to an heir as a child. Until the time set by the father, the heir is practically no different than a slave. Until then, he is under guardians and managers. His coming of age frees him from thier control and protection. Paul says that we were once slaves to 'elementary principals' (the law, I assume) until Christ came and we became sons and co-heirs with Christ. As cool as this concept sounds, I get the feeling that I'm somehow still missing the majesty and impact of it. It seems that it ought to feel more profound than it does, if that makes sense.
I'm a son of God, with all the rights that implies as a mature heir, not simply a servant or a child. What do you think that should mean in our lives? If I really understood this, I guess what I'm asking is, how would I live?
Galatians 4:9 - Not that we have found God, but He has found us.
Galatians 4:8-11 - Paul criticizes them here for returning to their old ways, specifically observing special days. Thinking about the general state of the church in the US, where Easter and Christmas are so important, it makes me wonder what Paul would say to us? Do we really get what Christ came for? Did he come that we should have nice buildings, egg hunts and Christmas plays? That we would light candles in wreaths and stop drinking for lent? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate these things too, but if this is what our religion is, and for too many that is what it is, then we have completely missed the point.
Galatians 4:12-20 - You can feel Paul's anguish about the Galatians, that they have returned to the old ways when he has seen, and taught them, of the freedom to worship God as an heir. Looking around, when I see folks falling back into traditional patterns, missing the grace of Jesus and not living in it's freedoms, am I in anguish? It seems that we can get worked up about major sin, but we tolerate folks missing out on the full freedom and joy in Jesus far too easily. I wonder if that's because we are too far removed from it ourselves? That's convicting right there, wow.
Galatians 4:21-27 - The implications of this passage hit me harder than it has in the past. Abraham had two son, one born through the rules (man and woman come together, sperm meets egg, baby is born), but for the other the rules, if you will, didn't work. No matter how many times step one was performed, steps two and three didn't follow. But God stepped in and, through a promise, fixed the process. It was only through the promise that Issac was born.
It's the same for us. The theory holds that through following the law, we can see God. Follow the rules, be with God. But the rule don't work. No matter how many times we try, the process fails as we cannot keep the law. But God steps in, and through the promise of Jesus, He fixes the process and in the promise we are reborn.
I ought to be ashamed at how often I fail to be amazed at what God has done for us - for me - in Jesus.
Forget the blog, you need to write a book. You have me thinkings about some things here.
I will not claim to be religious (at least not how most would interpret religion these days) but I do understand Grace and if not for it, we (I)would simply cease to exist. For that I thank God.