2020 Daily Devotion - Day 52
When we are in the midst of certain situations, it is sometimes difficult to see God’s hand. But then when we look back, we can see how God was able to move in our lives. The situations we thought were road blocks; God was using to re-direct our journey.
When I was in college at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, one of my professors was Dr. James Kallas. I had the absolute joy of having him for four courses in theology and biblical studies. Through the years, he has been one of my mentors, and what I learned from him has shaped my theology still to this day.
One of the classes I had from Dr. Kallas was on the Apostle Paul. In the class, Dr. Kallas taught us how Paul brought the Gospel to the Gentiles, which the early church resisted. But then, Dr. Kallas gave us an understanding that helped us to see and understand the hand of God at work in the world for His purpose.
Dr. Kallas explained how Paul had been a Jew, in fact a Pharisee. He had also studied in the Greek Stoic University. Finally, he was a Roman citizen because His father had probably purchased Roman citizenship for the family. Then Dr. Kallas went on to explain the condition of the world at the time. Rome controlled the known world, and as a result, there was the Pax Romana, which literally means "Roman peace". The result was that a Roman citizen could travel all over the world and not be troubled.
Then Dr. Kallas summarized all of this by saying, “Paul was able to preach a Jewish Gospel to a Greek-thinking audience in a Roman-controlled world.” In other words, God was able to bring the world and the messenger together at one point in time to fulfill His purpose of saving His entire world.
This is what Paul is describing in Galatians chapter one:
Galatians 1:1-2
Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the members of God’s family who are with me….
And then:
Galatians 1:15-17
But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
This is another example of God being in charge and in control. He has a plan He will carry out. He is even able to take bad things and turn them into something good.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we are amazed by your ability to control events. The events of the world and our lives are guided by Your ultimate will. Remind us of this important truth each and every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
When I was in college at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, one of my professors was Dr. James Kallas. I had the absolute joy of having him for four courses in theology and biblical studies. Through the years, he has been one of my mentors, and what I learned from him has shaped my theology still to this day.
One of the classes I had from Dr. Kallas was on the Apostle Paul. In the class, Dr. Kallas taught us how Paul brought the Gospel to the Gentiles, which the early church resisted. But then, Dr. Kallas gave us an understanding that helped us to see and understand the hand of God at work in the world for His purpose.
Dr. Kallas explained how Paul had been a Jew, in fact a Pharisee. He had also studied in the Greek Stoic University. Finally, he was a Roman citizen because His father had probably purchased Roman citizenship for the family. Then Dr. Kallas went on to explain the condition of the world at the time. Rome controlled the known world, and as a result, there was the Pax Romana, which literally means "Roman peace". The result was that a Roman citizen could travel all over the world and not be troubled.
Then Dr. Kallas summarized all of this by saying, “Paul was able to preach a Jewish Gospel to a Greek-thinking audience in a Roman-controlled world.” In other words, God was able to bring the world and the messenger together at one point in time to fulfill His purpose of saving His entire world.
This is what Paul is describing in Galatians chapter one:
Galatians 1:1-2
Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the members of God’s family who are with me….
And then:
Galatians 1:15-17
But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
This is another example of God being in charge and in control. He has a plan He will carry out. He is even able to take bad things and turn them into something good.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we are amazed by your ability to control events. The events of the world and our lives are guided by Your ultimate will. Remind us of this important truth each and every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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