“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.” Galatians 1:6
Reflect
“I guess I had always assumed people my age knew as much as I did.” These were the words coming from a conversation with a 20-year-old woman this morning as we discussed the need for Biblical knowledge and literacy. Being raised in a home where the Gospel is discussed frequently, it had never occurred to her not everyone her age knew the basics of the Gospel, even her peers who she sat next to in the pews on Sunday mornings.
Growing up in the Bible Belt, it has always been easy to assume everyone around me is a Christian. Going to Church is just something everyone does. This, however, is dangerous thinking. The reality is, the more momentum false gospels such as the prosperity gospel gain, it is more important than ever we spend time in the Word, studying it and knowing it.
People are searching for something only God can give them. The problem with this type of seeking is it makes a person vulnerable to a cushy, self-centered, politically-correct gospel, as opposed to the truth of the Gospel that isn’t shy about confronting our sinful nature. If we aren’t grounded in the truth, then—like the Galatians—it will be easy to follow what ever feels good at the time. It can be much easier to listen to someone tell us what the Word says than to seek the truth on our own.
Sometimes speaking the truth is difficult because the Gospel is offensive. We need the truth, and we need to know where we stand, even when it gets difficult. If you don’t spend serious time in the Word, I would encourage you to start; it is essential to our lives and to the lives of those around us.
Pray
Father, You have given us your truth through Your word. Give me a hunger to seek You daily, and help me to constantly be obedient and discerning. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Your Turn
Read through the book of Galatians this week. How can we apply these truths to our lives? What does it mean when it is said “the Gospel is offensive”?
For further study, check out this great resource by Shane Pruitt: 9 Common Lies Christians Believe: And Why God’s Truth Is Infinitely Better
