Experiencing God's Goodness in the Midst of Trial

Pretend with me for a moment. You have a career. You’re not just any employee, you’re well liked, dependable, approachable, and coachable. In two days, your boss, who loves you, is going to congratulate you on a pay raise because the work you’ve done over the past month has made you an asset to the company and deserving of a pay raise.

You also attend a church whose values line up with yours, and the community you surround yourself with is also a big part of this church. In addition, this church you attend has a hipster name, like Gethsemane, and serves coffee before every service. It’s obviously a highly-favored church with a name like Gethsemane.

Moving to your friend group. Most of your tight-knit circle is from church, with the exception of a few coworkers and friends from the weekend tennis club you joined last month. Because of your vibrant personality, you make friends quickly because you are so well liked. Thanks to Instagram, your spouse is well liked too, and you have to set reminders on your phone to ensure the topic does not revolve around him in all conversations with your friends.

Ok, you get the gist. You have a good life. You have the kind of life that allows you to play cornhole at a BBQ you hosted for your church-going Christian friends while also setting aside enough time to minister to your work friends, see your mentor on a weekly basis, attend a small group led by an elder of the church you go to, and go on some quality time dates with your spouse. There’s a lot of good going on that even your best friend would have to go deep sea diving to find something wrong with your life.

But say something did go wrong. For the sake of the point, we’re not going to list the endless possibilities and combinations of what could derail a perfect life. What do you do when something disrupts it?

Unfortunately, it is often the case that the God we praise on Sunday mornings quickly becomes the subject of attack. Suddenly, the God we discuss at 7pm Tuesday night “Life Group” becomes the Customer Service Complaint Center. Worse, our prayers turn into temper tantrums that would make any bystander question your friendship with God to begin with.

Does this sound too harsh? Unfortunately, even if these situation are not spot on, they set an example for how we treat God when our faith in him is put to the test. When we behave like this, we step off the rocky foundation our house should be built on (Matthew 7:24). We even sometimes look up at the house we built on the rock, shake our finger at it, and start building sandcastles below it. Once the waves crash in, we pout, whine, moan and groan as if the house we built our life on during the good times does not exist.

My dad would always address my stormy seasons with John 16:33 growing up: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” He would address me and my hard times with this Bible verse because he knew there was something greater we had in Jesus. Our friendship with Jesus is the house built on rock. Any time we take our eyes off Jesus during any personal crisis, epidemic, or pandemic which might stir up fear and doubt, we start building new houses on sand without God. The harsh reality is that some of us who say we are Christians during “Christmastime” seasons are waging war with God during the “Stormy” seasons. To that I say, “Choose a side!” If you accept God into your heart during the good, this does not automatically withhold you from experiencing pain; what it does do is give you a place of refuge in the midst of the battles, storms, and painful seasons of life. It give you a place to stand when the Devil commands you to sit. It give you a house to reside in whose foundation rests on a rock where no storm can wipe it out.

And when we build our house on the rock, we are building it upon the truth of God, in the good and bad seasons of life. In the seasons where we feel like our world is being flipped upside down and during seasons of victory. John Piper wrote a book during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 called, Coronavirus and Christ. In it, he asserts, “Our heart says ‘yes! We have tasted and seen’ [that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8)]…the knowing is well founded. We are not leaping in the dark.” The firm foundation built on rock is tasting and seeing the Lord is good no matter how our seasons pan out. Why? Because our firm foundation is ‘well founded.’

During my troubles, dad emphasized the fact that the world’s troubles will never amount to the love and care we have in Jesus. In Jesus, we are cared for beyond any trouble that will come our way. In this world, we will always come out victorious, even if it feels like we have lost too much. The first part of John 16:33 is equally applicable: “I have told you these things so that you may have peace.” When do we need the most peace? When we’re feeling anxious, scared, and filled with worry! When do we have anxiety and fear? In the midst of our personal storms. Our personal storms are when we need the peace of God to “transcend all understanding…so that [his peace] will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). The peace of God, which has overcome the world, is the rock which we build our foundation on. In fact, we know that God’s peace is a major part of our foundation because that is what Jesus left us with before he ascended to heaven after his resurrection: “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give you is a gift the world cannot give” (John 14:27). We can weather any storm with this gift. “Live or die, you will be with [God]…this is a firm rock under my feet. It is not fragile, not sand,” Piper writes in his book. Much like building our foundation on rock, the rock represents knowing God is in control whether we live or die. “Live or die, you will be with me” is having the peace of mind in the here and now because his will is for us to be with and him with us; that he loves us and will protect us at all costs.

Where this is illustrated perfectly, in a small yet profound moment, is in Genesis 22, when Abraham starts one of his days with an interesting command from God. “Take your son, your only son, whom you love…Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” ‘Interesting’ is a word that does not even do justice to describe the magnitude of that request. It is interesting enough for God to command any father to kill his son, but at this point in the Bible story, God is asking Abraham to sacrifice the one son he blessed Sarah and Abraham with at old age.

The absurdity of this command has multiple layers. First, what kind of loving God would ask you to sacrifice a young child, let alone your own child whom you love deeply? Second, Abraham and Sarah gave birth to Isaac after a long life without children together. Isaac was the only child given to the both of them by God, and right when you thought the layers of this command couldn’t make it more otherworldly than it already is, Abraham and Sarah were around 100 years old when they finally had a child to call their own (Genesis 21:1-7).

So, when Genesis 22 does not waste any time introducing us with God telling Abraham to replace the animal sacrifices with his son Isaac, it makes you wonder what was actually going through Abraham’s mind when the very next verse explains that he went straight to loading his donkey the following morning (see Genesis 22:3) in preparation to sacrifice his only son as a burnt offering.

Does Abraham ever think, Yeah God, I’m going to have to pass on that, or Am I hearing you correctly God? We can only infer that Abraham’s obedience to God is a measure of the level of faith he has that God can be trusted. “Faith had taught him not to argue, but to obey,” Matthew Henry writes in his commentary of Genesis 22. Faith is the assurance that what “God commands is good.” Do our strong trials exercise our strong faith and trust in God, or does it bring forth doubt, defiance, and lack of reverence?

Sometimes, our faith and assurance in the goodness of God must extend beyond one moment and one season. The trip to Moriah that God commanded Abraham to go to was not a three hour hike. According to Genesis 22:4, it was the third day of Abraham and Isaac’s journey before he even saw the place where Isaac would be sacrificed. By day three, Abraham only saw the place, so it had to have taken more than three days to get there. Regardless of whether it took three days or more, Matthew Henry concludes that three days symbolized a “time to consider and might deliberately obey.”

Whether you are waiting for a life-long partner, moving on from heartbreak, a pandemic to end, a secure career to line up in your favor, moving into a stable living condition, a three day trip to Moriah looks quite different to you. Whatever your season looks like, in your moments of uncertainty and time of deliberation, do you still hold true to the promises of God? Do you still believe God’s goodness will reign supreme? In the three day journey, God could have stopped Abraham and said, “Don’t do it! Don’t kill your son!” In the three days, Abraham could have argued with God, telling him, “If you’re a good God, you would provide a sheep to take the place of Isaac!”

We do that with God. Often, our prayers sound more like courtroom accusations than an act of faith and reverence to the Lord’s will. We question his authority and sovereignty as if our bitter words will jolt him out of his apathetic attitude towards humanity and force him to do something that aligns with our desires. We don’t trust God’s narrative, so we label him a lazy, untrustworthy God for not changing it for our benefit. At best, we give God the silent treatment until he is worthy of praise.

But what if, instead of trying to force God to change his narrative through fighting words, we trusted in the promises of God throughout his narrative? Take a look at how Abraham responds when his son asks him about the sacrifice:

“Isaac turned to Abraham and said, ‘Father?’

‘Yes, my son?’

‘We have the fire and the wood,’ the boy said, ‘but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?’

‘God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son…’”

This dialogue between father and son is so powerful because it is the definition of faith and trust within the story. God will provide. There is no time to argue with God, so in my obedience, I will trust that God knows best. This is Abraham’s mindset towards God. Abraham only knew that he was supposed to kill his son. He did not yet know God would provide an animal sacrifice to replace Isaac. But faith knew. Faith in the goodness of God knew. The story ends with God providing a ram for Abraham to take the place of Isaac so he wouldn’t have to die. Furthermore, Abraham is blessed beyond measure for his faith that God would spare Isaac. “Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you” (Gen. 22:16-17). And bless Abraham he did; with a number of descendants so great, Abraham couldn’t even count them.

Not once did Abraham question God, argue with God, or belittle God in this passage because of faith and a knowledge of God’s character. There is something powerful about standing true to what you know about God and not letting circumstances interfere with how you see him.

Your faith, trust, and reverence towards God should be the most important aspect of each season. Your circumstances shouldn’t determine your view of God; your allegiance to God should be the lens you view your circumstances through. Let the character of God guide you through the pay raises and the heartbreaks of life. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, whether your life is viewed as flawless or you’ve hit rock bottom. The goodness of God does not change because circumstances do. No matter which direction your life is headed, let God be the consistent beacon of hope in every season, because he is a perfect God who will guide us through every troubling experience we face.

What your belief and trust in God will do is allow you to overcome every obstacle that stands in your way because your faith is grounded in a powerful God who can help you weather any storm. You are armed with peace, understanding, patience, and strength when you press into the goodness of God and not let your current situation define the sovereignty of God. With God, all things are possible, and you can rest in knowing that no storm is too big for him.

Check out this video link that explains my view on COVID-19 and Genesis 22

Seeing Through the Struggle: The Gift of Promises

You see it on graduation caps, church slogans, websites, social media profiles, favorite verses on Christian Mingle. Surely, you know exactly what verse I'm referring to without me telling you. According to Biblegateway.com, this verse is ranked second most popular in the Bible. John 3:16 is number one. It's no surprise John 3:16 is number one, since it is full of good feelings and an incredible reminder of how much God sacrificed to be in relationship with us. Number two on the list is similar to number one: a feel-good promise that demonstrates how deeply God values us. Unfortunately, the same verse that delivers good feelings to all is also misunderstood by many.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" 

When you type in Jeremiah 29:11 into Google, the eighth website to pop up is titled, "Stop Taking this Verse Out of Context!" My guess is that this verse is taken out of context quite often. Similar to those signs in the park that say, "Do not feed geese pizza." Most likely, someone fed the geese Pizza Hut and killed a couple of them. Don't get me wrong, I do believe God has plans to prosper us. God literally is love (1 John 4:16), and God being love is directly associated with his desire to prosper us like we use our legs to walk. So, when someone uses Jeremiah 29:11 to comfort a friend who is struggling, it does make sense.

The dialogue we might have with someone else about Jeremiah 29:11 is not off the mark, but it is often the default response, and sometimes, hearing a response like that doesn't automatically turn things around for that person struggling. It doesn't make the struggle magically disappear if we memorize that verse. However, if we look at Jeremiah 29:11 from a different angle, we might quickly discover a different perspective on the struggle. Whether we are the one struggling or we are helping someone through a struggle, what if Jeremiah 29:11 was presented in the context in which it was actually given and declared?

Now, let's take it a step further: what if we saw Jeremiah 29:11 was more about God's promise to community, not to the individual? Further, God's promise to prosper us and not harm us does not mean we will be without pain, suffering, and tribulation. In fact, James 1:5 instructs us to take joy in the trials! God's declaration that his plan does not include harm does not mean we will live pain-free lives because God will magically take them away. No, God is declaring that his promise to bring about hope from a hopeless situation and good from a season of sorrow still stands. Despite their horrible situation, and "though the deliverance of the church do not come in our time, it is sufficient that it will come in God’s time, and we are sure that that is the best time" (Biblestudytools.com). Why? Because his promise is to prosper us, even if it means wading through the pain first.

The Lord is never at an uncertainty (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary), so his promises remain, even if our sin nature brings about temporary destruction. See, God does not promise we will be exempt from temporal pain (John 16:33), but he does promise his protection and guidance through a world filled with sin. Though pain may come in the night, joy and prosperity is promised for tomorrow (Psalm 30:5). Tomorrow might be 5 years from now. Breakthrough might not come until 10 years from now. Victory might not be evident until we are standing before God in the Heavenly realms, but it doesn't take anything away from God's sovereignty and ability to do exactly as he promised: configuring a plan to prosper us, to give us hope an a future.

How can we apply this to our prayer life and life in general? How can we live out Jeremiah 29:11 in the context it was written? First, don't waste time questioning why God is allowing the pain and suffering. Instead, turn mourning into praise and adoration - looking forward to his promises despite what a sinful world might do to derail you from resting on those promises.

Stop begging God to do away with the pain so you can feel better, but instead declare those promises over you and watch God transform you through the holiness he freely gives - "Be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16). You are set a part, so no amount of pain and suffering you go through in this life will diminish or destroy God's promise to you and for you. You will still have a future despite your setbacks.You will have setbacks despite God's plan for you, but those setbacks will never come close to disqualifying God from acting on those promises.You still have a reason to hope for a brighter future, despite present circumstances screaming otherwise. If we tune our ears toward eternity, not just in the present downfall we're experiencing, we will quickly turn our sorrow into dancing because God does not just have eternity in store for us, his promises are eternal as well. They do not fade.

God's promise in Jeremiah 29:11 is to the Jews, who were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon during the king's reign. Talk about an unfortunate time for the Jews! They were considered exiles, yet God's plan was to not harm them but to give them prosperity and hope for a brighter future? Doesn't look like it! It looks like they're prisoners!

Maybe you are experiencing life as if you're a prisoner - no hope, just pain and suffering. During this time, it is so difficult to rely on the promises of God. Jeremiah 29:11 does not promise the problems will go away quicker than OxiClean gets the stain out, but God does promise prosperity despite the current struggle, even if prosperity doesn't reveal itself until later. And, maybe the pain you're experiencing might be one of the very aspects of your life that launches you into something greater.

So, during the struggle, wait on God. Use the struggling time in the desert to speak with him and listen to his voice. Before you know it, you will find yourself in the En Gedi of your life, sipping from the stream and thanking God for what it took to get there. Be patient, rest in his promises, and when the desert shows up, his promises will guide you to the stream of Living Water.

Personal Testimony: My Healing vs. God's Healing

I don't often find myself in an emotional battle with God. Whenever I belligerently point my finger at God, outraged by his lack of intervention in my life when I need it most, I quickly discover I am the one who loses out every time I go down that ill-advised road. I am most certainly always the one who returns the Father with an apologetic attitude. This reason alone compels me to choose who to side with and who to oppose carefully, because let's be honest, any time we transform into attack mode against God, we are opposing him and what we originally believe about him before our outburst.

For most, if not all of the population, the aspect of God that becomes the most puzzling, frustrating, and surprising is his presence, intervention, and timing when we need him most. It feels as though we have a longer list of times where God did not fix things than when he did sort things out in our favor.

"God wasn't there when I needed him most," is a phrase heard often in our world, and can be so detrimental, it can lead some to completely walking out on their belief. After all, who wants to serve, love, and believe in a God who not only abandons us when we need him most, but is nearly impossible to find in the physical realm to begin with? In the end, with this mindset, many would conclude that being a follower of Jesus is a dangerous game because most who commit to believing in God most likely will feel abandonment when they need him, even if they never were abandoned to begin with (we can be confident in God never abandoning us when we look at Hebrews 13:5).

Personally, I have felt most abandoned by God when I am physically sick. For over 14 years, I have battled migraines. In many ways, I struggled believing it was "just a migraine" because it involved so many other side effects; vertigo, numbness (typically on the left side, waist up), severe headaches. I tried everything from praising God through my pain to rebuking the pain in Jesus' name. I even took pills at the right time to get rid of the pain, drank plenty of water, etc. and it still didn't get rid of the occasional migraine. In most cases, I would pray for healing and have others pray as well, and I was never healed. Then, in July 2017, I had a mini-stroke due to a tiny blood clot finding its way through a small hole in my heart. A massive hospital bill and one year later, and I am still taking pills to take the pressure off of getting another stroke. Since July 2017, I have gotten five migraines, so I am still not completely healed.

From 2003 to 2017, the battle between God was intense. I would often ask God, "Why aren't you here for me when I need you most?" I was raised in a Christian home and never had a memorable season in my life where I was on the fence about believing in God. I always believed in God and considered him Lord of my life, but that didn't mean I never had my doubts about his ability to intervene and be the God he says he is. When your sick over and over again, viewing God is like seeing Spiderman when he first discovers he had the ability to shoot a web out of his wrist. Sometimes he used it correctly, and other times he would try to shoot it, but nothing would come out as he would plummet to the ground below, looking like a fool who promises success but fails at every jump. The problem with viewing God from this perspective is that you believe in everything else about him, but you hesitate to believe he'll follow through when he shoots his version of a web. Therefore, you don't actually believe in God entirely.

When the mini-stroke happened, my attitude was the opposite of what most would expect. I could have walked out on God, and from a worldly view, I would have been completely justified. God didn't intervene when I had migraines, and now I have a stroke and a massive hospital bill because of it. Some God you are, I could have thought. Instead, I felt a wave of blessing, because God protected me from far more than just a migraine. His saving grace protected me from long term disability, flipping my life upside down because the stroke could've flipped my health on its side. Everything I aspired to be would be incinerated by this unmerciful stroke. Yet, God protected me from a life I couldn't even imagine.

The stroke, though, wasn't the only event in my life where I had a perspective change. January 6th, 2016, I had a difficult beginning to the new year. Outside of my physical health, I was dealing with additional issues that made me question my purpose. So, I went to the show by myself to see the movie A Monster Calls. Little did I know it would be about inner healing, as the main character would learn some valuable lessons from a made-up monster about letting go during his mother's battle with cancer. The main theme in the movie was that healing often comes to the rescue in ways we least expect. The boy is belligerent when he finds out the monster is not going to save his mother, so he spends most of the film viewing the monster like a Spiderman who can't shoot his web properly.

How often do we immediately assume God bailed on us when our physical pain does not go away. Or, better yet, when our situation doesn't improve when we ask God to make it improve? How many times do we only see the circumstances around us as a litmus test for God's goodness, but fail to look internally to see what God is doing within?

One day, during Jesus' ministry in Capernaum, a paralyzed man was lowered into the house from the ceiling where Jesus was visiting. The paralyzed man was hoping to walk again, and the men lowering him on the mat were hoping for the same. Spoiler alert, Jesus did heal the man, but that's not what I want to focus on. Verses before the man is healed of his paralysis, Jesus sees their faith and says to the paralyzed man,

"My child, your sins are forgiven."

(Mark 2:5)

"Your sins are forgiven"? Not, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home"? If I were the paralyzed man, I would have been hysterical! What about my pain? I would question. I don't care about my sin, I want my pain to be gone! I would demand. 

Some Pharisees were in the area and witnessed what Jesus said, so they told Jesus only God can forgive sins. Jesus' response? "Why do you question this in your hearts?" (v. 8).

Jesus understood there was need of physical healing, but he is also aware of our need for heart healing as well. What Jesus saw when he was approached by the paralyzed man was a heart change. Jesus recognized what was in the man's heart and healed him from his sins. In addition, he healed the man's physical ailment as well.

Unfortunately, most people are so wrapped up in the physical circumstances that they fail to see what other forms of healing God desires to accomplish within us. In these cases, our hearts become so hardened by what appears to be God's lack of protection that we miss out on partnering with what God is doing inside of us. 

Bear in mind, I am not suggesting we just accept that God will not or cannot heal us physically because he does not want to or cannot do it. His desire is to not only heal us physically, but to do a soul work that involves a change of heart. Paul writes about physical training compared to godliness in 1 Timothy 4:8: "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." In other words, while the physical body has importance, godliness, which comes from the heart and soul, is of greater importance for now and to come. 2 Corinthians 4:16 says, "...though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." In 1 Timothy, Paul mentions that strict physical training does "little to promote holiness...there must be a deeper work on the soul than any which can be accomplished by the mere mortification of the body" (Barnes Notes on the Bible - Commentary). In 2 Corinthians, we are encouraged that our renewal comes from inward transformation, not by the body. Therefore, what we desire in the flesh and physical is understandable, but our main focus should be on heart and soul healing, because that's what will go with us in thew present and future, afterlife.

Friends, what if we focused on trusting God through the entire process, knowing that he is in the business of healing in more ways than just physically? Jesus healed the paralyzed man of his sins first because of his faith that comes from the heart, then he healed him physically. Though inward faith and trust doesn't promise immediate outward healing of our situation on our watch, it does provide transformation in the Spirit, and God is at work in more ways than we know. If we limit God to what we expect him to heal and do with our circumstances, we will miss out on what he is actually doing through us. Let go of your expectations, let God intervene in his own way, and declare that his plan is perfect. 

He is doing far more healing in you than you will ever know in the moment. Watch and be amazed.

The Evidence of God's Love: From Bull to Grace - Part II

Remember Peter? Peter the disciple? Remember how he told Jesus, "Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you" (Luke 22:33 NLT)? Also, do you remember when Peter not only denied knowing Jesus once, but denied him 3 times (Mark 14:66-72)? Did you also know that there was not just one account of Peter betraying his beliefs, but another specific one found in Scripture?

Many of us, when asked if we know the verse, "I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me," would say we are familiar with it. Even if this verse has not been memorized, you have an idea of what it means. Well, what people might not know is the context and story that came before it. In fact, it is quite incredible that many don't make mention of it, but it is still important.

In this scene, which is found before the "I have been crucified" verse (found in Galatians 2:20), we get a pretty accurate depiction of what Paul considers a priority during his ministry. Back in Galatians 1:18, Paul references going "up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days (NIV)." Wait, Cephas? Yes, Peter and Cephas are the same person, as footnotes even declare this by saying, "That is, Peter." Ok, so Paul gets acquainted with Peter for 15 days, and commentary suggests that Paul was not looking to be mentored, but to inquire about how a disciple of Jesus would spread the Gospel that saved Paul (remember, this is the same Paul who persecuted Christians, but was saved through a vision). Further, Paul considers Peter an "esteemed pillar" (Gal, 2:9); meaning, a defender and principal supporter of the Gospel. Paul, at this point in his ministry, knows full well that Peter share a desire to communicate the Good News to circumcised and uncircumcised alike, Jew and Gentile alike. The mindset Paul has is to share the Gospel that connects everyone to one purpose. Galatians 3:26, 28 is evidence of this: "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith...neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (NIV). He repeats himself in the second part of Galatians 5:6: "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

Paul doesn't know much about Peter, but he does know that Peter has a mission similar to his own - to rid the old covenant and remind everyone the High Priest has brought grace and unity to all. Peter witnessed this mission through walking with Jesus, and Paul saw it through a confrontation  that changed the course of his life (Acts 9:1-19). 

Sharing similar visions for spreading the Gospel, Paul and Peter (Cephas) began working and now they found themselves in the same place, eating food. To put this story into perspective, we will use Galatians 2:11-20 as an analogy:

You meet someone at a church outing and find out you share the same radical Christian beliefs. You discuss deeply how important it is for our hurting and lost world to understand the Gospel and grace of Jesus Christ. You spend time with him, enough time to understand his passion for the Gospel, but not enough time to call him your bestie.

As you two are driving around town, you stop at the local Taco Bell to get a juicy Nacho Cheese Chalupa, beef of course. As you're sitting in the booth, the both of you see some buddies from the basketball tournament your new acquaintance was in months ago. They do not share similar beliefs, but you believe your friend is going to do some ministry.

Suddenly, the bell on top of the entrance rings. You glance over and see elders from the church you attend come in. You smile slightly until you notice your new friend turn around quickly, make eye contact with the elders, then look down at his food with great fear. "Oh no," he mutters, "I need to get away." He violently forces his chair back with his hind legs, takes his trey, and sits elsewhere. Meanwhile, some other church buddies see this and also take action. Your friend and several others abandon their post.

What do you do? You realize you don't really know your new friend that well, but you are most encouraged by the connection the two of you have about ministry. Naturally, you call him out. "Danny! Are you seriously abandoning a ministry opportunity? Here before you are a collection of people who are equally under the Gospel. The law has no grasp like the Gospel does. You, an inspirational leader, have hypocritically acted the opposite of what you preach. A careful follower of Jesus, who claimed to die by Jesus' side, abandon the redemption the Gospel brings! How dare you!

"Not only that," you continue in disbelief, "But you have sold others into the same belief that the law is greater than the grace our High Priest has given us, good for all time!"

Though this is simply a hypothetical illustration, it is almost exactly what occurred only verses before our famous, "I have been crucified" verse. Paul criticized Peter publicly because he acted against the Gospel publicly. Danny, our hypothetical Peter, betrayed what Jesus taught him: we are all united as believers through faith and have been gifted God's grace and infinite love, no matter who we are labeled as.

In the end, we are now given context as to why Paul would say, "I have been  crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." A verse before this (v. 19), Paul says, "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God." The old covenant (the law) commanded that circumcision had some value, and that the uncircumcised were not under the same umbrella as the circumcised. Galatians 2:12 alludes to there being a difference between the Jews and Gentiles regarding circumcision because "when they arrived (the circumcised Jews), [Peter] began to separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group." Earlier, in Acts 15:7-8 (NIV) and later in Galatians 5:6 (NIV), we realize that the Pharisees believed circumcision mattered. Acts 15:7-8, when the Council at Jerusalem met about issues of acceptance, Peter reminds the Pharisees that "God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the Gospel and believe. (8) God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them..." This was a response to a Pharisee piping up, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses" (Acts 15:5)

Furthermore, Paul clarifies in Galatians 5:6 that "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value..." 

Wow. Number one, this entire story connects to this one simple truth: we are united through the Gospel. Proof? Here, read Galatians 3:28 again: "neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (NIV). Paul calls out Peter because he abandoned his post. At the dinner table, Peter scoots his chair back because "better people" have arrived. You're telling me the law makes these people better!? Peter! 

A large reason the Church (God's people) tends to fall a part is because of this Pharisaical mindset. He is better than him, she is better than they, but we are all broken. We all fall short of God's perfect glory, but we are also sanctified. His blood covered all of us. What would it say of God if he sent his son to only cover a few people's sins? Preposterous! God's perfect love shelters and covers all, but the question is whether we will accept the shelter he gives so freely (1 Corinthians 2:12). Let us love unrelenting and practice grace unlimited. We are all under the Gospel, and the Gospel is what unites us. 

Number two, props to Paul for calling out any leader who puts the strict, Pharisaical law above relationship and connection with God our Father. His desire to push the Gospel to the ends of the earth is a big reason we see the Gospel in the same way. It is a sacred gift that cannot be taken lightly.

As we connect with church and a body of believers, let us love them and pour out love and mercy as Christ does through the Gospel we are given.