Posted on November 12, 2023 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
What’s Worth Fighting For?
By Bill McMurtrey
Have you ever done it? I bet you have. I bet you wish you could go back to tell your younger self about your future. I know that I certainly wish I could.
We can’t go back in time. What we can do, what I did do, was reach out to someone that I viewed to be a lot like me only 20 years my senior.
We spoke several times. I asked him what he would do differently if he was me, 20 years younger.
I needed to know.
My life at that time had some unseen challenges, and I was not where I thought I could have been concerning a couple of distinct aspects of life. As he shared, I didn’t speak. I only listened; that is how you learn, and I needed to understand what I didn’t know.
A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash. Proverbs 15:14
We heard that today. That "we don’t know what we don’t know," and we don’t.
Today, we broke down the stages of growth and life. I’m 58 and definitely in the "GROW STRONG in CHARACTER and CONTRIBUTION" phase mentioned.
God doesn’t give us a lifetime’s wisdom all at once. What he does offer is a chance for us to learn and grow along the way.
The Galatians were getting confused by the Old Testament teachings, intended for the Jewish people of Israel, and the new covenant/promise of Jesus that they are reconciled under. To be safe, they were talking about following the old Jewish laws alongside the teachings from Jesus. Paul worked all the angles to convince them they were true children of God based on Jesus’ death and resurrection. In our time, what teachings do we get tangled up in? Where do you do "extra" to earn your spot in God’s family?
This passage offers all who believe and trust in Jesus the absolute assurance that they are part of God’s family. Our future is secure as God’s children the moment we give our lives to Jesus and commit to learning how to follow him with our heart, soul, mind and strength. When did you make that decision? What do you recall about the first time you understood the gift Jesus came to offer you?
In this passage we are reminded that the laws of the Old Testament had their place and their purpose…but both have been fulfilled in the arrival and resurrection of Jesus. Under our followership of Jesus, our former labels matter no more. We are no longer free or slave, young or old. Jesus followers are people God can trust, because they are grafted into the family of God. Take a moment to name all the labels, burdens or roles that you are no longer, since becoming a follower of Jesus.
Paul continues urging this people to stop looking back and trying to fulfill the old testament laws. He longs for them to experience the complete freedom God offers as they learn to follow Jesus. "Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then?" he asks. Does your faith hold the same joy or vibrancy as it did when you first discovered that Jesus was for you? Why or why not? How might you turn up the heat on the joy of fully following Jesus?
Others in the community were comparing the new followers of Jesus to their Jewish faith, labeling them as lesser members in the family of God. Scripture tells us clearly that once we believe, we are all equal as co-heirs with Jesus. Where have you been treated as less than? Where have you felt unworthy? Take some time praying over these thoughts and asking Jesus to lift the idea that you are less than a full member of God’s family far from your mind. God loves you, he is for you, and he longs to be with you!
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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