Text: Galatians 6:11-18
See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised - only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule - peace be upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
And the letter comes to an end. The world enslaves us to all sorts of ways to "make it." The simple notion that we must succeed or the understanding that we must look or act a certain way in order to be worthy to be here...are examples of just such an enslavement. The mark of circumcision on the people of God was a good thing. It was for the men (remember men counted) a forever reminder of the relationship between God and this small band of people. But in Christ, the mark - as good as it is for some - is not important as a way that a person can say to others "I've made it" or "I'm one of the ones!" For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything. What is something? The new creation - God's loving grasp of all. God gives it up for God's people. God goes all the way for us that we may come to know the place we hold in God's presence - before we have ever done a single thing in our lives. Status is given to us. Identity is given to us. Before any other word or any other action - the whole world (you, me, all the powers that be) is crucified and as Jesus is raised from the dead to new life...we too live now in the middle of a creation that is new - for it is not limited by the rules of how we can "make it" or how we must make it. Paul ends this letter with a a simple note: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit brothers and sisters. Amen. Nothing else but that - it is enough to make for a new creation.
Connection: We all want to "make it" in one way, shape or form. Unfortunately, what are we willing to do, what actions are we willing to justify, what conditions must be met for that to take place. What is the cost to ourselves and to others when it is not enough for us to be God's Beloved? Then again, how does this identity of being "in Christ" change the way we enter into a world that is trying to "make it"? Today when we try to "make it" how can our God-given status "beloved" redefine our actions and bring us day by day within this gift of life called "a new creation"?
Creator of all things lead us into this day as your beloved children. Remind us, within the push & pull of this day, that we stand with your beloved, Jesus, and with him we walk from the cross each day into the life that comes from you alone. Amen
See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised - only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule - peace be upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
And the letter comes to an end. The world enslaves us to all sorts of ways to "make it." The simple notion that we must succeed or the understanding that we must look or act a certain way in order to be worthy to be here...are examples of just such an enslavement. The mark of circumcision on the people of God was a good thing. It was for the men (remember men counted) a forever reminder of the relationship between God and this small band of people. But in Christ, the mark - as good as it is for some - is not important as a way that a person can say to others "I've made it" or "I'm one of the ones!" For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything. What is something? The new creation - God's loving grasp of all. God gives it up for God's people. God goes all the way for us that we may come to know the place we hold in God's presence - before we have ever done a single thing in our lives. Status is given to us. Identity is given to us. Before any other word or any other action - the whole world (you, me, all the powers that be) is crucified and as Jesus is raised from the dead to new life...we too live now in the middle of a creation that is new - for it is not limited by the rules of how we can "make it" or how we must make it. Paul ends this letter with a a simple note: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit brothers and sisters. Amen. Nothing else but that - it is enough to make for a new creation.
Connection: We all want to "make it" in one way, shape or form. Unfortunately, what are we willing to do, what actions are we willing to justify, what conditions must be met for that to take place. What is the cost to ourselves and to others when it is not enough for us to be God's Beloved? Then again, how does this identity of being "in Christ" change the way we enter into a world that is trying to "make it"? Today when we try to "make it" how can our God-given status "beloved" redefine our actions and bring us day by day within this gift of life called "a new creation"?
Creator of all things lead us into this day as your beloved children. Remind us, within the push & pull of this day, that we stand with your beloved, Jesus, and with him we walk from the cross each day into the life that comes from you alone. Amen
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