Galatians Day 3 - No partiality

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Galatians Day 3 – Galatians 2:1-10

The false teachers are relentless, causing increasing division. Unity is a big deal to God. It’s time to confront this elephant in the room head on. After 14 years, God tells Paul to go to Jerusalem.

Four times Paul refers to the leaders as ones who “seem influential” or “seem to be pillars”. If feels snippy, but Paul is recognizing their clout in the Church. These are the people looked to for guidance and authority.

Paul acknowledges their status, but says it makes no difference to him; they add nothing to what he received directly from God; God shows no partiality.

These men may be Christian “super-stars”, have all the “followers”, bring in the big crowds, get all the attention….but, in God’s eyes, they are no better than Paul or anyone else who is doing what God called and ordained them to do.

There are no top dogs in God’s eyes, regardless of how it may look to the outside world. In fact, in God’s upside-down-first-will-be-last kingdom, the top dogs are likely on the bottom.

If you are abiding in God and He has given you a calling, you are just as important and qualified as anyone else fulfilling their God-given calling.

If God is telling you to write, you are no less qualified than a best-selling author. If God is telling you to teach, you are no less important than a mega-church pastor. If God is telling you to start a non-profit, you are no less equipped than the founder of a multi-million-dollar organization.

God shows no partiality.

To the sideline observer, Paul may look like a failure. He is fighting for these fledgling churches he planted to not lose their faithfulness. He had a “thorn in his side” that God wouldn’t remove. He is in prison for the later part of his life. But here we are 2,000 years later sitting under his teaching.

The same spirit in them, with all the associated power, is in all of us. God only asks us for obedience; He makes the magic happen.

A few final thoughts…

Paul doesn’t go to Jerusalem alone. He brings Barnabas (one of them) and Titus (an uncircumcised Greek believer). It is a reminder that we aren’t on this life journey alone. Make sure you have your people, and bring them when needed.

Fight for the gospel. Confront anything that distorts the gospel. It matters to the salvation of those we love. Keep the big things the big things, then fight for unity. It matters to God.

Don’t be intimidated or feel less-than when it comes to your calling. Press on. Remain obedient. It’s in God’s hands.

​Remember the poor. In such a weighty doctrinal debate over salvation itself, the final directive is to remember those in need.  Jesus bought our Salvation with His blood, and Jesus modeled caring for those in need. It is what He came for (Luke 4:16-21).

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