I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different "good news", but there isn't another "good news." Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any "good news" other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. Galatians 1:6–8 WEB.

There was an uproar in the church at Galatia. Though they had begun in the Spirit, they were seduced back into keeping religious laws. The non-Jewish people, Gentiles, were told that they needed to be circumcised and obey the law of Moses to be saved. They wanted them to convert to Judaism before becoming a Christian. The Apostle Paul made it very clear that we are saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone and not by legalism.

In Galatians 3:3, Paul wrote, "Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?"

We need to stay in tune with the Holy Spirit. When we start to become stale, our Christian walk is always reduced to keeping a set of rules. That becomes our measurement of faith, and we will spread it to those following us. The close relationship gradually fades into the background. We still pray. We still go through the motions, but it is mostly legalism—rule-keeping by rote.

Our hearts and our eyes begin to stray and wander after other things. The grass seems to become greener over there. At that point, we have left our first love, and our gospel has become perverted. It has been reduced to rules, and what was once a hot relationship is now cold legalism. You can visit cold, dead churches all across the world where Jesus is only a distant memory. Yet, He longs to speak to each of us today.

Stay in tune with the Lord daily. When you are walking close to Him, you will fulfill His requirements and be pleasing in His sight without all of the religious rules. I found that many of the things I was brought up to believe as "God Pleasing" were not even in the Bible. They were merely the teachings of men that were taught to me. Check behind your leaders, and be sure to read it for yourself. Rekindle that relationship with Jesus. Speak to Him as the friend that sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please pour fresh fire on me and give me the zeal to shake off the water. Draw my heart to You, and give me an extreme spiritual makeover. Fire me up, God. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: Today is Thankful Thursday at the Ministry Events group! This event gives us an opportunity encourage each other by posting thoughts, moments, and prayers of gratitude for Him, His creation and all that He does in our lives. All our welcome! To join, just click on the group name and then the join link on the page that will follow. As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network.