Our Starting Point

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:3-5 (New King James Version)

Paul’s desire and prayer for the believers at Galatia was that they would have grace, peace, and deliverance. He knew that those things could so easily be sought in wrong places and from wrong sources, so he wastes no time in pointing them to their true Fountainhead….God. God had to not only be their Point of Origin for creation and salvation, but for grace, peace, and deliverance as well. So what is meant by each? Webster’s dictionary has helped to broaden my definitions.

Grace entails unmerited divine assistance, approval, favor, mercy, and privilege. Who doesn’t desire that for daily living? Peace has the idea of tranquility, harmony, and freedom from disquieting, oppressive thoughts or emotions. Last but not least, deliverance is being set free. The wonderful, encouraging part is that along with this being Paul’s longing, it is God’s will for each believer. It is His will for us.

I revel in that truth this morning! My very need for liberation from domineering thoughts is what lead me to a study in Galatians and I joy in the fact that right off the bat God is laying a foundation of truth with which I need to embrace and connect. What I seek can only be found in Him. As one who has often looked elsewhere, the words of Jeremiah 2:13 come to mind, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” What a travesty to any who name the name of Jesus as their Savior and Lord! The ramifications of making others my basis for approval, freedom, and change are huge. It leads to dissatisfaction, emptiness, and a life void of the very things I am seeking. People are meant to be a lot of things to me and for me, but foundations and suppliers of internal needs is not one of them.

At one time, that truth frightened and saddened me, because it revealed the falsehood and frailty of my thinking. Where I was looking and who I was looking to was never going to bring the results I desired. Now instead of affecting me negatively, that truth is becoming my key to freedom. God is urging me to take His words, through the Apostle Paul, to heart. Personalize them as inscriptions on my heart and mind. Own them as my compass, rudder, and anchor to live by. It is all part of renewing my mind and deriving the benefit of transformation that will come from it.

Father, what I seek is found in You alone. Keep my eyes focused on You as my River of Life. Amen.

Satisfied - Ronnie Freeman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjephQBPw9Q&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.