Right Devotion

Right Devotion

Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary

Scripture Text: Galatians 1:6 and Acts 2:42-47

Series: Comments on Galatians

Today's Scripture Jigsaw

The superintendent of nearly 100 churches encouraged the young pastor to not be discouraged. He thought it likely that the church that this pastor had labored in for almost six years, that had grown in the knowledge of God’s word, love of the family of God, and even in attendance, would fall apart after he moved on to his next call. The church had grown from 23 to 86 on the typical Sunday morning but true to the Superintendent’s words, within two weeks after his departure, attendance had fallen to 22.

A new pastor had come in with strange teachings that was at odds with the gospel that the little church knew. Worse, he lorded his seminary-informed dogma over them. In short, the “happy condition” the church had come to know was ruined “in a moment.” Luther was spot-on in saying, “A man labors for a decade before he succeeds in training his little church into orderly religion, and then some ignorant and vicious poltroon comes along to overthrow in a minute the patient labor of years” (Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians).

Most of those folks in that little church were not swayed by false teaching. Some held on until that new pastor was sent elsewhere. Most went to other churches where sound doctrine was the rule. Others were simply lost in the commotion. It is difficult to keep the faith when the gospel is not taught. Be careful to know, insist upon, and hold on to the faith and doctrine of the Apostles. How you believe affects everything, particularly your relationship to God. Be devoted to the true faith and be rightly devoted to Christ in God.

Log in to add a comment

Click Here For Content Archives