The Judaizers have
infiltrated the churches in Galatia and promoted the idea that having
Jesus is good, but they must also be keepers of the Law of God. Paul
the apostle is addressing this problem by first declaring his
authority and then giving them a rehearsal of his background for his
authority. We have already read that Paul did not confer with flesh
and blood when he first accepted Jesus, nor did he go to the apostles
right away. No, Paul went into Arabia where he learned the gospel
directly from Jesus Himself. In chapter one and verse eighteen we
discover more about Paul's first years in Christianity. He wrote:
Then after three years
I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Notice
first, “Then after three years.” Three
years? Yes, three years before Paul made another move. Imagine the
first time Paul sat and listened to Jesus explain the true gospel to
him. Perhaps it was under the desert stars, or in a revelation or
vision. We really are not told, but it must have been a fantastic
time together. Then after Paul received his first lesson, there were
only more. Jesus was with his disciples for three years before He was
crucified, and now He was taking His time teaching Paul. No one knew
or knows the gospel better than Jesus, and as Paul received from
Jesus, The Professor, there was no better teacher in the world.
After
the three years of teaching, Paul wrote, “I went up to
Jerusalem to see Peter;” Can
we imagine this first meeting? Here is a man who has the reputation
of being a slaughterer of Christians meeting the man who was a leader
among the disciples. Peter was trained by Jesus, and baptized by His
Holy Spirit to the point that thousands were turning their lives over
to Jesus. Paul was trained by Jesus in the desert, and though he once
was a lost soul with lots of Biblical knowledge externally, Paul now
a converted follower of Christ. We have some indication that Barnabas
in the Bible brought Paul to the leaders in Jerusalem because they
did not trust Paul, and it could be that this was the time for it,
however, regardless of the details it would have been fun to be a fly
on the wall and watch their first encounter.
Finally,
Paul let's us know the amount of time he spent with Peter, “and
abode with him fifteen days.” Fifteen
days? That's quite a while for company, isn't it? Nevertheless, Peter
and Paul were together for fifteen days conversing, working together,
having discussions, eating together, and perhaps sharing stories
about Jesus and His time with them individually. After that much
time, they must have developed some sort of bond of closeness
together. It was at least enough time that in a later chapter of this
book we will read of Paul withstanding Peter to the face for certain
behaviors with the Gentiles.
So,
what about us? Do we spend time with Jesus? Do we let Him teach us of
His gospel, according to His ways, and without regard to other
people? Do we know His word, His fellowship, and His suffering and
sacrifice for us well enough that when others ask us about them, we
easily answer? How long has it been since we have simply shut down
everything and everyone else and just listened to Jesus? Maybe as we
ponder these words of Paul today, we shall come to know that sitting
under the tutelage of Jesus will give us the greatest instruction of
His gospel and give us the most favorable position to share it with
others.
Next
time Paul will tell us who else he went to see in Jerusalem, so read
ahead, and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to
Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it
locally
at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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