Happy April fools day to you.
There will be no devo today out of respect for this sacred holiday.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Just kidding I have a devo.
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Galatians 3:1
Paul’s stern but sorrow-laced statement to the Galatian Christians concerned their rapid decent from faithful children to false-teacher believing (ch1:6), fallen-away (ch5:4), erring brethren who have stopped obeying the Truth.
He calls them foolish, not as a petty, schoolyard taunt, but with sincerity. He legitimately wonders if they have ceased to think. That’s the only explanation Paul can imagine as to why brethren would walk away from the simple Truth of God for another–false–doctrine.
“Foolish” is a most appropriate term, then. Since you’d have to be mentally beside yourself to willfully walk away from all the blessings that come to faithful children of God. What kind of blessings? Well…
There’s the blessing of assurance that what you know to be True is true. As Paul says, the evidence of Christ was plainly (“evidently”) presented to them. Once you follow after false doctrines of men, nothing is solid ground; the earth beneath your feet becomes shifting sands, unsustainable and unreliable.
There’s the blessing of a relationship with God. Paul chides the brethren for being “bewitched.” The word means “enticed by something pleasurable.” The doctrines of men certainly are that, as they appeal to our wants rather than our needs. Jesus offers us better things than this world can offer. We can have a relationship with God through Him where every need is supplied.
There’s the blessing of the blood of Christ. Paul reminds the brethren that Jesus was crucified for them. He shed His blood which washes away our sins and not only does His blood remove the sins from our past, but it is available to wash away the sins we may later commit, as well (1 John 1:7).
Don’t be a fool. Follow Christ and you will be certain you’re saved, cradled by God, and cleansed by Jesus’ blood.
Have a great April Fools day, ye wise brethren in Christ!
~ Matthew