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 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2021

ALL  CHANGE (GALATIANS 1:11-24)

Paul writes to the Galatians about his total transformation after having met Christ. 

REFLECTION 

All change is the theme for our reflection today. When the phrase all change is used to describe a person, It means that person has changed his or her personality or morals or beliefs. Paul is an example of an all changed person. The key lesson in today’s Scripture is that no one meets Jesus, embraces him through repentance and remains the same person. In other words, you cannot meet Jesus the Christ and continue to live in ignorance and sin. The question we need to ponder on today as we go about our daily activities is that since I became a born again Christian what has changed in my life? 

Paul was a zealous propagator of Judaism but when he met Jesus and was transformed he began preaching the Gospel. “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-12) My dear friend sharing the Gospel is part of our total change. Since you became a believer and a person who has been transformed by Jesus Christ, how many souls have you preached the Gospel to? Do you have the zeal as a believer to share your personal testimony of how Jesus transformed you with others for the sake of spreading the Gospel like Paul?

When a believer truly meets Jesus and experiences change in all aspects of his or her life,  he or she distinguishes between his or her past life and the new life found in Jesus. If you cannot distinguish or differentiate between your past sinful life and your newly found and transformed life in Jesus then you have not experienced regeneration through a personal relationship with Christ. Paul as a sign of his total transformation or change confessed in Galatians 1:13-14  that “For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.” but when he met Jesus and experienced all change or transformation in his life, Paul again bared testimony in Galatians 1:22-24 that “And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me. In other words, the changes Jesus brings into our lives must be seen or witnessed by all and glory given to God. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

It is rather sad that some Christians are unable to tell the difference between their past lives and the new life they ought to live in Jesus. It is sad to note that we still have gossip, slandering, sexual immorality, corruption, idolatry, drunkenness, homosexuality, rivalry, ethnicity and all of manner fleshly desires as a way of life among Christians. “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8). My dear friend “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7). A life of all change is what Paul described in Roman 12:1-2  that “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2). Shalom.

PRAYER

WE SURRENDER ALL TO YOU LORD, EMPOWER US TO EXPERIENCE ALL CHANGE REQUIRED FOR OUR SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE. AMEN

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)