Living in the Spirit
June 3, 2016

Scripture Reading: Galatians 1:11-24

Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, ‘The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they glorified God because of me. –Galatians 1:18-24

Just as with sisters, the relationship between brothers is special and unique. I have often felt for Jesus’ brother, James. I always picture him as the second oldest, although I do not know if he was. If not the second oldest, he was apparently the next best alpha male. Tradition holds that Mary was widowed at some time before the recorded history of Jesus’ ministry began. If that is the case, while Jesus was away being a Rabbi, James was apparently at home keeping things afloat. Paul reports in 1 Corinthians 15:7 that Jesus-resurrected appeared to James. I wonder if this event was shared with Paul at the meeting described in our scripture today. It must have had a major impact on James’ life as he went on to become the leader of the church in Jerusalem. I also think it is pretty special that with everything else that was going on, Jesus took the time to connect with James.

Paul did not stay in Jerusalem but initiated his ministry in other regions, perhaps beginning his outreach to the gentiles, but more than likely starting with the Jews who were scattered about the whole region. He probably knew he had to prove himself before he would be accepted back at the home base.

What of your life experiences has made you peculiarly well prepared to take the message of Jesus Christ to certain populations? You have a story to tell. It may seem rather vanilla to you but it may mean the difference in a life lost to a life found for another. It never ceases to amaze me the people who seem to have a gift for working with prisoners, the poor, the homeless, drug addicts, and the mentally ill who really had no background at all in the area they work but something lit the flame in their hearts and something is lighting a flame in our hearts today.

Prayer: Lord, help those who have not yet found their quest to recognize it, help all who know their quest to hone their skills and invest their whole being in attaining it. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.