Scripture – Galatians 6:11-18
In v. 11 we see Paul wants his
readers to understand the significance of what he is about to say (He’s typing
in CAPS & BOLD print!). Then in v. 12 Paul speaks boldly and with uncalculated
risk. Even in his day a segment of
believers were striving to make a “good showing in the flesh” by “compelling
others to be circumcised. Many
Christians do the same thing today as we take our focus off the cross of CHRIST
and the demands of the authentic GOSPEL OF JESUS and put it on religious busyness
and works.
Like Tommy Roe I can sing: Dizzy, I'm so dizzy my head is spinning . . .Like a whirlpool it
never ends! As long as we are busy with our religious activity
we don’t have to think about what JESUS is calling us to . . . a life of death,
denial, and cross bearing.
Here we are in the midst of the
holiest season of all, approaching the most foundational spiritual and
historical event in the entire history of the world and we are busy doing our
normal religious activities unaware of the tragedy of this misplaced energy.
And as we continue to busy
ourselves with our everyday church activity we escape the “persecution of the
cross.” The cross is dark, bloody,
messy, and calls for our death. We don’t
want to deal with such things. But as we
ignore the cross bearing we miss the glory, the power, and the celebratory
grandeur of the resurrection . . . even the resurrection becomes mundane to us.
We have the advantage of knowing
the outcome of Passion Week and we have opportunity to prepare ourselves to
CELEBRATE EASTER BIG but we risk missing it.
Has the suffering of the cross, the bloodiness of the cross, the death,
burial, and resurrection become mundane
to us? Has Easter become just another
holiday for us?
In v.13 Paul says these religious
busybodies “do not even keep the Law themselves.” They would rather focus on their church
growth figures and evangelistic recruits so they can boast in the flesh of
those they have conquered.
Then Paul brings us back to what
is most important: “May it never be that
I would boast, except in the cross of our LORD JESUS CHRIST (v. 14).” None of the things that keep us so busy
during this season matter. The only
thing that really matters is that we are “a new creation” in CHRIST JESUS (v.
15) and that is possible because of the true meaning of Easter: GOD has caused us to be born again to a
living hope through the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST from the dead, to obtain
an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away
reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of GOD through faith
for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3-5).
CHURCH . . . STOP EVERYTHING AND FOCUS!
JESUS IS Risen . . . !
Richard Holloman
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