DAY 269

BEING ABLE TO DISTINGUISH

Song of Solomon 6, 7 & 8 and Galatians 4

“Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead…” Not the best line to “impress your girl,” but read on and you can sense the emotion…Come my beloved…for many waters cannot quench love…” The Song of Solomon speaks of true love.

Love—a challenging word. I have written earlier that I love my wife and I love pizza: obviously not the same. We need to be able to distinguish between the two.

In this portion of the letter to the Galatians we are presented with two religions and two ministries. Paul is trying to get this church to be able to distinguish between Gospel faith and worldly religion (vv. 8-11), and he is trying to get them to distinguish between Gospel ministry and worldly ministry (vv. 12-20). It is one of the most important insights of this letter…and it matters that we understand the contrasts and see how to spot them in our world today.

Turning first to religion: in v. 8 we read how that at one time they were enslaved—what were they enslaved to? The answer on the surface is idolatry. At a higher level it is a belief that by human action they can save themselves. In v. 9 we see the opposite…Paul intentionally starts the sentence with “us knowing God” (as if we are in control) and then he switches to “being known by God.” Being known by God—describes a relationship not a religion. The first difference to be able to note in this world today is the difference between religions where we think we are ones “doing” what makes us right with God…as compared to a relationship God offers to us. The only place you can find the later is with and through Jesus Christ…all other religions…literally 100% of every other religion in the world…has you having to do something for you to satisfy God. In Jesus, He has done it all. The issue in Galatia was being able to distinguish between adopting Jewish laws over against staying free in the relationship through Christ.

Onto ministry: Paul highlights that he became like them for them. His ministry is flexible. He is a Jew. He is circumcised. He can and probably does follow the Jewish law…but he does not expect them to. His ministry is also transparent in that his weakness is on display for them. This ministry contrasts to the other type…the type where “they make much of you only to shut you out.”

The story of Hagar and Sarah is meant to illustrate these points, but I don’t think I have the time to unpack them.

So let me circle back and end with love—it is also the word we often lean into when we speak of God’s love for us. And He does love us: for when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters. And because you are sons and daughters, God has sent the Spirit of his son into our hearts…”

Sons and daughters…if you and I can somehow get this into our hearts we will have a much easier time spotting and staying away from false religions and self-serving ministries.