Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel. --NKJV In the name of the One Who called us in the grace of Christ, amen.
You see here the art and skill with which Paul treats his Galatians, who had fallen away and had been led astray by the false apostles. He does not attack them with harsh and stern words; he speaks paternally, not only bearing their fall with patience but even excusing it somewhat. He also shows maternal affection toward them; he speaks gently to them, and yet in such a way that he scolds them, though with words that are very appropriate to the purpose. Toward their betrayers, by contrast, he is very violent and indignant. He blames everything on them, and so at the very opening of his epistle he erupts into fulminations against them. “If anyone,” he says “preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:9). Later on, in the fifth chapter, he threatens them with condemnation: “He who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is” (Gal. 5:10). He also invokes a terrible curse upon them: “I wish those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!” (Gal. 5:12) These are dreadful words against the righteousness of the flesh or of the Law.
Here Paul lives up to his own rule, which he gives later on in the sixth chapter (Gal. 6:1): “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual, etc.” We, too, should follow this example. We should show that toward those poor disciples who have been led astray we feel as parents feel toward their children, so that they may see our paternal zeal and maternal feelings toward them and may see that we seek their salvation. But when it comes to the devil and his servants, the originators of perversion and sectarianism, we should follow the example of the apostles. We should be impatient, proud, sharp, and bitter, despising and condemning their sham as sharply and harshly as we can. When a child has been bitten by a dog, the parents chase the dog but console and soothe the weeping child with the sweetest of words.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You treat us with gentleness and patience. Help us to tenderly seek for those who have been led astray. Grant that we have no tolerance for false teachers, but a deep love for those who are led astray by their teaching. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
copyright 2002 Reformation Lutheran Church http://ReformationChurch.org
Thank you again to Pastor Alex Ring for his devotions taken from Luther’s writings and condensed for our devotions.