Foolish Ryan, who has Bewitched Me?

Scripture

Deuteronomy 13:3-4 “you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁴ It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Galatians 1:6-7 ⁶I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Observation

Both of these passages have a common theme. People are attempting to take the pure and perfect Word of God and either add or subtract from it. In Deuteronomy the people wanted to see more signs and miracles. In Galatia the Christians were creating a legalistic version of the gospel in which law was added to grace. In both passages, God and Paul were rebuking and correcting them for the way in which they are easily enticed and bewitched by something other than preaching Christ and his sufficiency. In Chapter 3 Paul actually says, “Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?”

Application

Can we really blame Israel and the Galatians? We have all been in a spot in our walk with God when we felt it more comfortable to add some law into grace in order to make ourselves feel better. Or perhaps we have told God that unless we see a sign or miracle, we will not move. Is faith in Jesus not enough to believe anymore? Is His grace not sufficient to sustain men when I’m feeling down or confused? The reality is that there is a perfect gospel. We are an unperfect people. But when we admit that we are scared, confused or even deceived perhaps that is when God can begin to work in us. Each time I read Galatians I am quick to judge. But how many times I have heard the truth and then walked out the door only to follow another gospel.

Prayer

Thank you God for your amazing grace. Thank you God that in my weakness I am made strong. Thank you God that everyday I wake up I have a change to hear your voice and walk in faith.