God or Man?

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:6-7

Sometimes a scripture hits me in such a way that I’m drawn to read it repeatedly. This is one of those times. There will always be people trying to throw us into confusion and pervert the gospel. There will always be seasons we may be swayed to go our own way.

I wonder if the people who Paul was talking to realized they had deserted Christ. Did the people even realize they were listening to the wrong voices? Had they not been grounded? How long had they been Christ-followers before deserting Him? I’m sure there are commentaries on this scripture, but right now I just want to ask without searching for the answers.

This scripture is so intriguing to me because it seems that these exact words could be preached from any pastor right now, 10 years ago, or 50 years from now. God and His word are the same yesterday, today and forever.

The wrong voices are everywhere. That’s why it’s so important to be constantly in His word and talking to God.  There are so many opportunities to become confused. There are so many things in life that can pull us away from Christ. But here’s the thing:

People can’t pull us away from Christ if we don’t let them. We must be willing participants. People aren’t that powerful. The only way people can have power in our lives is if we give it to them. God is way more powerful than man. We were given free-will to choose Christ or go a different direction. The people Paul is talking to had ALL chosen Christ. They ALL had deserted Christ or were in the process of deserting Him. I don’t like these odds.

 1 Peter 5:8 says… “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  

Satan uses man to help devour people. That’s why its so important to be constantly reading God’s word and praying.

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

 I’ll say it again- Satan uses man to help devour people. That’s why it’s important we ask ourselves who we are pleasing. Are we trying to win man’s approval or God’s? The answer to this question is the key to our stick-ability with Christ.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 1 John 5:9

“Choose you this day who you will serve…”  How will you devote2day?