Galatians 1:11-24 (NRSV)
Read Galatians 1:11-24 on biblegateway.com
Verse 11For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; Verse 12for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Verse 13You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. Verse 14I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. Verse 15But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased Verse 16to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, Verse 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. Verse 18Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; Verse 19but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother. Verse 20In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Verse 21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, Verse 22and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; Verse 23they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." Verse 24And they glorified God because of me.
Devotion
Sometimes we underestimate the difficult process of growing in faith. We may need time apart for prayer and study. I appreciate Kathleen Norris’ words: “There is a powerful moment in any conversion, perhaps to any faith, in which a person realizes that all of the mentors, and all that they have said, all of the time spent in reading scripture or engaged in what felt like stupid, boring or plain hopeless prayer, has been of help after all. It is nothing you have done, but all of it is one event, God’s being there, and being of help” (Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith).
Intimacy with Christ takes time and work to develop. In light of his prior passions and commitments, it apparently took the Apostle Paul three years to focus on his new path. How is your faith journey developing into a more comprehensive and faithful following of Jesus?
Prayer
Lord, we come from far and distant places,
Growing in your loving grace,
Caught up in a mighty mission,
You have set us free.
Thank you. Amen.