Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

DON’T TRY THIS YOURSELF

Why would Paul call the Galatians “fools”?  Why would he insult them that way?  That wasn’t very nice, was it?  My mamma would have skinned me if she heard me calling someone a fool.  But here we have Paul, the missionary to the Gentiles, calling the Galatians “fools.”  Why?

Because Paul knew better than just about anyone the futility of the flesh.  He knew it was impossible to please God on your own. He knew it was hopeless to try to keep the Law.  He knew the Spirit was the key to living a life that honored Christ.  That is the message he had preached and continued to teach to all who would listen.

TEACHING MOMENT

Do your children struggle to obey you sometimes?  You know they love you and want to please you, but they just can’t help themselves sometimes.  What a perfect verse to share with them.  Explain to them that all their efforts to please you are worthless until they yield first to the Spirit of Christ Who can give them the ability to please God and you.

They need to know as early as possible that pleasing you is secondary to pleasing God.  As a parent, we should be honored that our children want to please the Father.  If our children are pleasing Him there should be nothing that displeases us.  And the best way our children can learn to please Him is by learning from us.

So, are you pleasing the Father by living in the Spirit?  Or are you trying to achieve holiness through your flesh?  If you are, then may I call you foolish?  You are a FOOL!  Won’t you instead become a fool for Jesus?  Let Him give you the power to do all through Him.

Let His Holy Spirit guide you and direct you in every word and deed.  The world may see you as a fool, but the Father will be well pleased.