Verse of the Day 9/23
Galatians 1:6-7 I am shocked that you have so quickly turned from God, who chose you because of his wonderful kindness.[a] You have believed another message, 7 when there is really only one true message. But some people are causing you trouble and want to make you turn away from the good news about Christ. Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The read through the New Testament plan that I am following has recently moved into the book of Galatians. As I read chapter 1 these verses stood out to me, especially in the light of what has been going on with the church in America during this COVID crisis. I have heard it reported that it is likely that 20% or more of the churches that have closed during this pandemic because they have not been allowed to meet; will never reopen. What are the reasons for this? I am sure that the devil couldn't be happier about the situation.
Many churches have been forced to go to "online" services which reach a part of their normal audience on Sunday, but what about the others. Many have "quickly turned away" to other interests, other things to occupy their time and they have fallen out of the habit of gathering together on Sunday for corporate worship and fellowship. The question then is, what do their lives look like during the rest of the week.
We are called to be diligent in following the gospel and spreading it's message. If we are not involved in worship, it is likely that we will not be involved in sharing God's praises let alone sharing the gospel. Abandoning the church and breaking contact/fellowship is tantamount to desertion which is what the word translated "turned" here means in the original Greek. Desertion was punishable by death.
Bishop Robert Barron wrote the following in a devotional that my wife Jean shared with me. "Jesus compared his followers to salt, which is designed to preserve and enhance something other than itself, and to light, whose purpose is to be set on a stand in order to illumine what is around it. Pope St. Paul VI articulated the same truth as follows: the Church doesn't have a mission; the Church is a mission. …..We go forth, therefore, with God's authority and empowered for his work. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ he will ask whether we have taught the world how to praise, how to reverence the truth, how to go out vigorously on campaign to extend the kingdom of God."
Whether we are able to attend a service at our church on Sunday, we are still a part of that community and should maintain contact and maintain our mission of being salt and light under God's power and authority, extending the kingdom of God even during a pandemic.
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Galatians 1:6-10 English Standard Version (ESV)
No Other Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant[a] of Christ.
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