The Whole Way

May 18, 2022 – The Whole Way

Galatians 5:11-12 “Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.  As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!” (NIV)

Whew! The Apostle Paul doesn’t mince words when he addresses the Galatians here.  His frustration and anger just pour out in the letter. It is harsh. I appreciate this. God used ordinary men to write His words. All the emotion of a frustrated teacher, mentor and Apostle comes out. It doesn’t make me feel so small and sinful when the same emotions grip me over spiritual matters. I can say some harsh words just like Paul. What is the motive behind the words? Paul is overwhelmed with a deep love for these people. He is also overwhelmed with his deep love for Christ’s truth. Paul wants God’s truth to wake these people up. He doesn’t want them falling back into something less than Jesus. Boiling hot word come out on the page. All scripture is God-breathed, and it is useful for teaching, rebuking, admonishing, and training in righteousness (1 Timothy 3:16-17). God had a purposeful use for those very words to get penned and sent to the Galatians. My challenge is for you to think before you speak or write something, even if it of a spiritual nature regarding God’s truth. It is imperative, now more than ever to speak truth. Let the Holy Spirit guide your words, spoken or written, with His gift of self-control to those going off track. You both will be blessed by the effort. “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32

Blessings,

Ellen