Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

After preaching the Gospel for fourteen years, Paul was directed by God to meet with fellow preachers and leaders to consult with them regarding the Gospel he was preaching. Let’s not misunderstand here. 

• Paul was not summoned by the elders so they could correct or counsel him. 
  
• Paul did not go there so he could bounce this Gospel off them to make sure he had it right. 
  

Paul was just being obedient to the prodding of God. Have you ever seen something in scripture and wondered what God is up to?  Maybe those men Paul was going to meet needed a little motivation. Perhaps a church there needed to realize how important the Gentiles were to God.  Maybe Paul needed a little rest and encouragement. Let’s face it, he was taking Barnabas, Mr. Encouragement. Unlike me, God can accomplish a couple of things at the same time. 

I think Paul wanted to demonstrate the clarity and consistency of the Gospel he was preaching. How relevant is that today for our churches? Clarity and consistency.  If there is one thing our churches and people need, it is the absolute assurance and conviction that the Word of God is true then, now, and tomorrow.  Revelation 4:8 reads, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.”  2 Timothy 2:13 tells us, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.” 

For 14 years, Paul had been preaching the same Gospel - the one given to him directly by God, without changing it.  He was not swayed by the winds of social climate, the poll of public opinion, other preachers, and certainly not by pressure from his enemies. Look what he says in Galatians 2:5, “But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour so that the truth of the Gospel would remain with you.”   

When have you witnessed someone so assured of their cause, that they ignored all naysayers and critics and continued their efforts? How about our former Lead Pastor, Jeff Clark?  He had been given a vision by God for what He wanted our church to be and, by golly, that was the plan.  There was no substitute no matter how crazy it sounded sometimes. He weathered the storm, and look what we get to enjoy and, more importantly, get to be a part of.   

My hope for you today is that you will find a verse or two you can hang on to. One that, regardless of what happens in your life, you know this verse to be true and then stand, because the “waves and wind still know His name”. 

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• What is a verse in scripture that you cling to?
• If you don't have that one verse yet, grab your Bible sometime today and find that verse.  Write it down.  Memorize it. Then repeat it to yourself when the day gets tough. 
• To continue studying the book of Galatians, head over to the Unschooled & Ordinary podcast. A NEW episode drops today! Join the podcast team as they continue to unpack the Book of Galatians in the episode, "6 | Galatians."
• Prayer: Dear God, thank You for Your Scripture and for speaking to us through it! Your Word is true and strong enough to get me through the darkest of seasons! Thank You for proving to us that You want us to know and lean on You by giving us the Bible! In Jesus' name, Amen.