This Day in History: 0000-06-26
June 26 – Galatians 1:11-12
Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
Oh how important this truth is! Do we believe it? Do we treat the Bible with the reverence it deserves? Do we understand that it is the very words of God Himself? It is the most valuable, and unparalleled document ever written because it carries both the unique personalities of each individual writer and the unifying mark of Divine inspiration. Paul gives us a peek into that process here.
Each individual writer of the Bible from Moses to John did not write down a message based on their own thoughts or ideas. They weren’t writing what they’d learned from studying under acclaimed philosophers and thinkers. Instead, they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit – God Himself. He spoke to them, taught them, offered them a Divine interpretation of the world, showed them things still to come, and revealed things long past.
But that’s not all. As each author sat down, pen in hand, the Spirit of Jesus Christ did something altogether unique. He inspired their very own words! Revealed to them exactly what they should write, but He did it in such a beautiful way – one that allowed the individuals to shine through. Their personalities and perspectives were allowed to play a part. Doctor Luke wrote with thorough, well planned, painstakingly researched detail. Melancholy Jeremiah wrote with great emotion. Creative David wrote with the heart of an artist, while his deep-thinking son Solomon wrote with great wisdom. And Paul – the man who wrote the passage above, did so from the perspective of a man who had spent his life studying the Jewish law and following the regulations of religion with the heart of a perfectionist. From him we receive most of the New Testament. Book after book filled with meticulously well-crafted arguments in defense of the Gospel. He offers compelling evidence to refute the power of the law he knew so well to save and instead pointed to the saving grace of Jesus Christ as the only way to find life and victory. But as he tells us here – that message didn’t come from him. It may have carried his tone. It may have dripped with his personality. But the message was from Jesus Christ Himself. What a treasure!
May we never take for granted this unmatched gift! The Bible was given to us to guide us through the trials of this life. It is the very words of God and it is how He talks to us. Why would we ever choose to spend our lives refusing to listen? Our Father longs to talk to us. He wants to gather us to Himself and speak words of life into our souls. He’s already given us the words. Let’s listen!