The Gospel At Work

What am I to do with my life?

This is an almost universal question asked by all throughout their whole. Kids talk about what they want to do when they grow up. Teens talk about what to study in college. College students ask this in regards to employment. Parents who now have children. The person looking to quit their job. The person getting ready to retire after many years in a job/career. The older person who now realizes they cannot do what they used to do.

Our identity is crucial to our future.

The question boils down to a sense of identity. What defines you?

How does Christ speak?

Another important question is the nature of which Christ speaks today. This is similar to the question, “what is God’s will for my life?”

The Gospel changes our identity.

This is at the heart of the letter Paul has penned and what his opening chapter is starting to convey. Paul gives a portion of his history in these verses to help us understand how we are to know the Gospel is at work.

Christ and His word always agree.

Paul’s experience did not contradict what Christ revealed to others. One cannot say “Christ says this...” when the Bible says otherwise.

Paul’s independence was in experience not substance.

It was the same Gospel that Paul and Peter preached. The issue before the Galatians is some are trying to “correct” Pau’s Gospel to make the gentiles become Jews.

Paul wrestled with his call and identity.

I think this is evident with his talking about going into Arabia. This may be a veiled reference to the prophet Elijah. Some believe that Paul was wanting to be a modern day Elijah. Have you wrestled with your identity and calling?

God’s call can be specific.

Paul was specifically called to proclaim the new to the Gentiles. This may be your experience.

God’s call may be generic.

Our passage does not teach a call of God that is always specific and exact. It is about responding to God’s call first to the Gospel and then in identity.

What is your story?

We like Paul should use our story to help others understand and respond to the Gospel.

Keep Christ the center of your story.

Sometimes if we are not careful we can highlight someone or something other than Christ.

Tell your story.

This is the heart of “evangelism”. The opportunities we have to tell our story will be powerful in the months and years to come. Pray about who and where you can tell your story about Christ’s Gospel and identity in your life.

The Gospel produces joy!

Part of the issue those who are now agitating the Galatian Christians was that they were not “good enough” or “Jew enough”. Paul talks about his independence and the reaction of the early followers to show it is the Gospel which produces joy not man’s efforts.