We have such examples of faith around us — we must pick up the baton and run our portion of the race — a race already won in Jesus’ death and resurrection. So lift your weary hands and shore up your arthritic knees — let God mend your wounds and keep you moving into God’s future – Now is not the time to give up!
We have reached the end of the Preacher’s sermon, and like any great orator, he brings his closing argument home in a big way! He has made his case for Christ. He has explained how the Resurrection anchors the lives of believers; assuring believers that God keeps God’s promises. He has waxed eloquently concerning the way Christ prays for us, and intercedes for us as one who knows our weaknesses and loves us anyway. He mentions the hope and the faith that Jesus gives us, and the way Jesus’ life, death and resurrection throw a cord of hope into the
world for believers to hold onto and to live by. Then comes Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore… ” With all of this understanding, the Preacher expects something of the congregation! You can almost hear him say, “What are you waiting for? Now it’s your turn!”
Run your part of the race. Lift up your weary hands and shore up your knees. Christ has won the victory, but you have a part to play. Don’t fall away. Don’t get discouraged, and don’t turn on one another. Focus forward and focus on Christ. This Lenten Season, as we move toward a celebration of the resurrection of our Savior, the Preacher reminds us that our lives and our church need resurrection as well. The passion of our Christ is more than a hopeful story — it is the very fuel we need to run the race set before us.
“God has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’
So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6)
The Letter to the Galatians
How do you respond to a nasty e-mail? Do you immediately shoot back a scathing response? Or do you let yourself cool off first? Do you “fight fire with fire,” or do you hesitate to jump into conflict? Paul’s letter to the Galatians teaches us much about Paul’s character in such situations. This letter was written by Paul sometime in the late 50’s C.E. to a group of churches in a Roman province called Galatia. Paul’s preaching birthed these churches and he felt some sense of connection and pride in them. Then Paul receives news that outside teachers were traveling in Galatia, teaching the Gentile Christians a new message. Primarily, they wanted the Gentile Galatians to keep Jewish Law, and to be circumcised. This was not Paul’s message and he was clearly angry! Without wasting time, Paul dashes off an emotional, hotheaded letter expressing his feelings about this new teaching. He also tries to correct the teaching of the outsiders by insisting that the Gospel of salvation is in Christ alone.
In the course of this letter Paul calls the Galatians stupid, and boasts about his Apostolic authority. He argues about the usefulness of the Law, and boasts concerning his Torah observance. But as Paul makes his case against the outside preachers, he also puts forth stunning and unforgettable theological assertions. “In Christ there is no such thing as slave and free, Jew and Gentile, male and female, because we are all one in Christ” (Galatians 3:28). “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand fast, therefore, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against such things” (Galatians 5:22- 23). “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap what you sow” (Galatians 6:7).
Galatians is indeed a treasure, giving us a glimpse of Paul’s biography and character, as well as his passion for the church and the truth of the Gospel. As we read through the letter this week, we get closer to the celebration of Easter. In many ways, this passionate letter prepares us
for the serious nature of the Easter promise. Paul reminds us that the Easter Acclamation, “He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed,” is not simply words to fill the sanctuary, but a life-changing assertion; an assertion that means everything to those who desire true spiritual freedom.
“We have come to believe that no one is saved by works of the law
— only by faith in Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 2:16)
Galatians 3:27-29 (Paraphrase)
All of you who are baptized in Jesus’ name have put on a garment of Christly living. There are no longer Jews, Greeks, slaves, freed persons, men or women, but each of you are equal and precious in God’s eyes — Christ has made you one.
“You’ve got to be kidding!” My children’s response to the news that their new school in Texas had a “Uniform Dress Code” was less than positive. We found very little in their old wardrobes that fit the new dress code, and it took weeks to find clothes approved by the WISD that were at least relatively cool. What a hassle! Yet as the schoolyear has progressed, and as I have visited the high school, I can’t help but be pleased with the effect of the policy. The students have a kind of uniform look that transcends socio-economic and racial divisions. As I drive to work in the morning on a road that represents the border between WISD and PISD, I can tell by their appearance which bus stop is filled with Wylie kids. Most importantly, school officials report less trouble with discipline, and greater school morale since instituting the dress code.
The Apostle Paul fought the idea of divisions and distinctions within the Body of Christ. Concerned by a new outside teaching that Gentile Christians were in some way inferior to their Jewish, Torah-observant brothers and sisters, Paul reminds these churches of the equality of all
believers in Christ. Often in the early Church at baptism, new believers would don pure white robes to symbolize their new life in Christ.
Paul reminds these churches of that symbol and expands it. “At your baptism, you didn’t just put on a white robe. You put on a new way of living; a new perspective; a new set of priorities. Everything that went before is transformed, and the things that once divided you no longer exist.”
Paul refers here to a Uniform Dress Code for the church – putting on Christ in the way we treat each other and work together. Like any Uniform Dress Code, putting on Christ does at least two things: it unifies us and makes us recognizable to those on the outside. At the same time it creates a different pattern of behavior and morale inside the Church.
As we look toward Holy Week, let us pray that the divisions we create may be buried with Christ on Good Friday. And when we celebrate the Resurrection on Easter Morning, may we also celebrate the unifying power of Christ in our midst.
“Jesus Christ is our peace; in His flesh He makes us one,
breaking down the dividing walls of hostility among us.” (Ephesians 2:14)
