Throughout scripture, there are some great questions asked. In the Book of Job, God says to Job, “Dress for action like a man, I will question you …” (Job 40:7). (I think that is a terrifying scenario!)
In the Psalms, there are many questions posed — David asked, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalm 13:1). Sometimes we might feel like David, forgotten by God, and forsaken by Him. Jesus, himself, at His crucifixion, quoted David’s words from the beginning of Psalm 22, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).
However, the question I would like to consider in this article, is the one posed by Paul to the Christians of Galatia — “Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16).
It appears that the Galatian Christians were being taught by Judaizing Christians who were insisting that for a Gentile to be a Christian, they had to become like the Jews, including, for the men, being circumcised. Paul makes his argument that they (we) are justified by faith, through grace, and not by any works we might carry out. He told them that if they wanted to do what these false teachers were telling them, they would be putting themselves under the (Jewish) Law, the very thing from which Jesus’ sacrifice had freed everybody.
How do you react when you are confronted with the truth, and that truth is at variance with your beliefs, or your actions? Do you get defensive? Do you go on the attack? Or, do you embrace it, repent of your past actions, and determine to do better now that you know better? Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
Colin R. Vine