Watchman Daily Devotional:When Confronted With the Choice Between Appeasing Others or Remaining Faithful to the Message of God’s Grace, It Is Imperative That We Remain Steadfast in God’s Commitment, Regardless of the Potential Consequences

Galatians 1:4,9-10 ...Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

9 I want to reiterate something that has been mentioned before: If someone is spreading a message that is different from what you originally believed, they should face eternal condemnation! Am I currently seeking the favor of people, or of the divine? Or am I seeking the approval of others? If my aim was to gain the approval of others, I would not be devoted to serving Christ.

Paul found it necessary to provide ongoing support and guidance to the churches he established, ensuring their unwavering commitment to the original message of the Gospel. In the opening of his letter to the Galatians, the author emphasizes that the information he is sharing is not of his own invention. He imprisoned Christians until he had a life-changing encounter with Christ. Believe in the authenticity of this Gospel, and don't be swayed by others, no matter who they are. According to Paul, the gospel being preached emphasized the importance of following the rules of the Law in order to please God. Paul understood the significance of the new covenant, recognizing that it centered around the concept of grace bestowed upon us through the actions of Jesus. He shares his personal experience as evidence of that claim.

He succinctly summarizes the Gospel in verse 4. Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for our sins. He willingly accepted the consequences on our behalf. He fully covered the cost. Not only does that bring us into alignment with God, but it also delivers us from the darkness of this current age. Many people are searching for redemption from their sins, yet fail to recognize the importance of being saved from their current state of moral decay.

They fail to perceive it as depravity. Living a life focused solely on oneself, without acknowledging the presence of a higher power, is a disregard for the relationship with the divine. It emphasizes prioritizing one's own will over God's. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining control over your own life. He sacrificed Himself for our sins, and through true deliverance from sin, we are also freed from the corruption of this current age.

Paul fervently emphasized that his message to the Galatians was a sincere expression of his devotion to God. He could easily comply with those who insist on teaching a distorted message, but that would make him a follower of people rather than of Christ. He was unafraid to defy convention, endure persecution, and embrace his unique identity as a servant of Christ. Compromising to please others instead of staying true to one's faith is a misguided approach.