Galatians 2:6-10 ESV

6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

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6 Subalit mula sa mga wari'y mga kinikilalang pinuno—maging anuman sila, ay walang anuman sa akin: ang Diyos ay hindi nagpapakita ng pagtatangi—ang mga pinunong iyon ay hindi nagdagdag ng anuman sa akin.7 Kundi nang makita nila na sa akin ay ipinagkatiwala ang ebanghelyo para sa mga hindi tuli, kung paanong ipinagkatiwala kay Pedro ang ebanghelyo sa mga tuli,8 sapagkat ang gumawa sa pamamagitan ni Pedro sa pagka-apostol sa mga tuli ay siya ring gumawa sa akin sa pagka-apostol sa mga Hentil;9 at nang malaman nila ang biyayang sa akin ay ipinagkaloob, ang mga kanang kamay ng pakikisama ay ibinigay sa akin at kay Bernabe nina Santiago, Cefas[a] at Juan, sila na itinuturing na mga haligi, upang kami ay pumunta sa mga Hentil, at sila'y para sa mga tuli.10 Ang kanila lamang hiniling ay aming alalahanin ang mga dukha, na siya namang aking pinananabikang gawin.

THE RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP.

The apostles and leaders themselves agreed with Paul's message of salvation by God's grace alone. However, there was a sect, referred as the "Judaizers" who objected. And, they claimed that Titus had to be circumcised in order to be saved (Acts 15:1). Paul called these men "false brothers." A term Paul is saying that, by his definition of the gospel, they were not even true Christians.

It was made clear that Paul specifically to take the gospel to non-Jewish people around the world. Peter, in a similar way, had been sent by Jesus to proclaim the gospel to "the circumcised," the Jewish people. Though Paul and Peter preached to different groups of people, they preached exactly the same message, that is, all sinners must come to salvation by God's grace through faith in Christ.we must glory in the different ministries used by God to reach more people in God’s vineyard.

The three most influential leaders, James, Peter (Cephas), and John, recognized the grace given to Paul by God to carry out his ministry (Gal 1:15). They acknowledged the truthfulness of Paul's testimony that Christ had been revealed to him and had called him as an apostle. Hence, they gave to Paul and Barnabas, his partner in ministry, their seal of approval called "the right hand of fellowship." It was more thanan official handshake. In the New Testament, this was a show of acceptance and inclusion in the group.

Then, Peter, James, and John did ask Paul to do one extra thing in his ministry to the Gentiles. That is, Paul has to remember the poor. Paul eagerly agreed. Thus later, he had brought relieffor those affected with famine at Jerusalem given by the brethren at Anticoch and Syria (Acts 11:29–30). Even, one of Paul's missionary journeys was marked by urging Christians to give support and care to those who were struggling in Judea (1 Cor 16:1–3).

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Galatians 2:1-5 ESV

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

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Pagkalipas ng labing-apat na taon, muli akong nagtungo sa Jerusalem kasama si Bernabe, at isinama ko rin si Tito.

2 Ngunit ako'y nagtungo dahil sa isang pahayag, at isinaysay ko sa harapan nila ang ebanghelyo na aking ipinangangaral sa mga Hentil (subalit palihim sa harapan ng mga kinikilalang pinuno), baka sa anumang paraan ako'y tumatakbo, o tumakbo nang walang kabuluhan.

3 Subalit maging si Tito na kasama ko ay hindi pinilit na patuli, bagama't isang Griyego.

4 Subalit dahil sa mga huwad na kapatid na lihim na ipinasok, na pumasok upang tiktikan ang kalayaan na taglay namin kay Cristo Jesus, upang kami'y alipinin—

5 sa kanila ay hindi kami sumuko upang magpasakop, kahit isang saglit, upang ang katotohanan ng ebanghelyo ay manatili sa inyo.

THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL.

After fourteen years, Paul, Barnabas and Titus had a private meeting with the influential leaders in Jerusalem. There was an issue. There were false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out their freedom that they have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring them into slavery.

Is the truth of the gospel he preached to the Gentiles compromised? This was the chief concern of Paul. He made sure that he wasn’t running or had not run in vain. He said, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”[Acts 20:24] Indeed, preaching another or distorted gospel is in vain, even, it does invite God’s judgment. It’s an ‘anathema’ before God.

The truth of the gospel must be preserved. How? It’s by preaching it as it is. We should protect it from contaminants. Any distortion to any part must not be tolerated for it change the image of the whole. Similarly, any tweaking of the true gospel destroys the whole. It’s not good news anymore but a hearsay, even a curse. This is what the devil is doing today.

There is only one gospel that saves. And that is the gospel that Paul preached. He said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”[Rom 1:16]

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Galatians 1:18-24 ESV

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR LIFE.

Paul’s life has been enigmatic. This former Pharisee was a staunch enemy of the gospel. He testified by saying, “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”[1 Tim 1:12-16]

In the regions of Cilicia and Syria, his name began to emerge. But, he was still unknown to the churches at Judea. Amazingly, his testimony had sounded forth so that they heard, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” A persecutor becoming a preacher of the gospel was not easily believed then. Even today, people are skeptical to notorious characters having a complete turn around in their lives.

Paul’s change was no short of a miracle. He met Christ and in a moment his life made a 180 degree turn. His life became amazing not for stopping what he used to do fervently, that is persecuting Christians or the church. More than that, he became a champion preacher and defender of the gospel. Christians shouldn’t be noted for what we don’t do but for what we do – advancing the gospel witness, at whatever cost. For this, they glorified God through Paul.

Paul’s zealousness had not weaned. The only difference was the touch of God’s grace. From a zealous persecutor to a zealous preacher. From a murderer of Christians to a martyr for Christ. He said in Phil 1:20-21, “as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Paul who recognized as the chief of sinners became the champion for Christ. He testified, “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.” [1 Cor 15:9-11]

Reflecting on this, how motivated are we today to glorify Christ in our lives? It is when we understand, like Paul, that it is all about His grace that saves us. Because of sin, we all. But, Christ who gave His all so that we regain all. What should then be our response to the grace of God? Like Paul, we ought to glorify God in our lives.

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Galatians 1:6-9

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

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6 Ako'y namamangha na napakabilis ninyong iniwan siya na tumawag sa inyo sa biyaya ni Cristo at bumaling kayo sa ibang ebanghelyo.

7 Hindi sa may ibang ebanghelyo, kundi mayroong ilan na nanggugulo sa inyo at nagnanais na baluktutin ang ebanghelyo ni Cristo.

8 Subalit kahit kami, o isang anghel mula sa langit ang mangaral sa inyo ng ebanghelyo na iba sa aming ipinangaral sa inyo, ay hayaan siyang sumpain!

9 Gaya ng aming sinabi noong una, at muli kong sinasabi ngayon, kung ang sinuman ay mangaral sa inyo ng ebanghelyo na iba kaysa inyong tinanggap na ay hayaan siyang sumpain!

THE TRUE GOSPEL.

There is only one true gospel. What Christ did and its implications can’t be amended. This gospel that brings salvation is purely by grace plus nothing else. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”[Eph 2:8,9]

However, the Christians at Galatia had turned to a different gospel. There were Judaizers infiltrators who troubled them and wanted to distort the gospel. They tweaked one aspect of it and the whole gospel becomes unacceptable. That is, faith in Christ alone is not enough, believers must also observe the law.

Paul was astonished that they quickly ‘deserted Christ’ who called them through His grace. Believing this skewed gospel is tantamount to going against Christ. Why? It’s an insult that what Christ had declared in victory, “It is finished” is considered lacking and incomplete.

Paul made a strong statement. That is, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” [v.8,9]

Absolutely, “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”[Acts 4;12]

This should catch attention to each one of us. There are a lot of distortions of the gospel out there. Are we believing the right gospel? Its always be through grace in Christ by faith alone. Nothing less. Nothing. More. Nothing else.

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Galatians 1:1 ESV

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—

AN APOSTLE FROM GOD.

Unlike today, the author of an epistle [letter] did begin by identifying himself. Thus, Paul had declared quite emphatically that he was an apostle.

An apostle simply means ‘sent one’, That is, he himself was sent by God to accomplish a certain purpose. In the New Testament, this refers primarily to the 12 men Jesus called and trained during His ministry on earth and then commissioned to represent Him in the world.

There were many who accused Paul’s apostleship, that it was from man or through man. Definitely, they were wrong. The resurrected Christ appeared to him and he was converted.[Acts 9:3-9] And, God appeared to Ananias, who was reluctant at first to lay his hands on him, saying, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”[Acts 9:15,16]

Paul was very clear and focused in accomplishing his goal as an apostle. He declared in Acts 20:24, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

We are not apostles. But, we can be doing a similar work of the apostles. The great commission is given to all of us. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”[Matt 28:19,20]

How are you and I responding as His gospel witness? How are we actively involved in the spreading of the gospel around to the least and lost? Would you yield to the Holy Spirit’s control so that He could make you an effective witness of the gospel? [Acts 1:8, Zech 4:6]

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1 Kings 22:41-46 ESV

41 Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43 He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 46 And from the land he exterminated the remnant of the male cult prostitutes who remained in the days of his father Asa.

A GODLY LEGACY

While the northern kingdom was in turmoil, the southern kingdom Asa was a good king and Jehoshaphat his son followed his footsteps and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. 5 Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.”[2 Chron 17:3-5]

As summarized by author, D. Guzik, who said, “The writer of 1 Kings actually summarized many of the remarkable accomplishments of Jehoshaphat, who was one of the better kings of Judah. From 2 Chronicles we learn many of Jehoshaphat’s other accomplishments.

· He sent teachers of God’s Word out to his entire kingdom (2 Chronicles 17:7-10). “By this little band of princes, Levites and priests, sixteen in all, Jehoshaphat did more toward impressing the surrounding nations with a sense of his power than the largest and best-equipped standing army could have secured to him.” (Knapp)

· He established a permanent military garrison along the northern frontier (2 Chronicles 17:1-2, 12).

· He trained and equipped a sizeable army (2 Chronicles 17:14-19) that was able to quell a Transjordan invasion (2 Chronicles 20:1-30).

· He placed Edom under Judean control, controlling an important caravan route to the south (2 Kings 3:8-27; 2 Chronicles 20:36).

· God blessed his reign so much that the fear of the Lord came upon neighboring nations so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:10).

· Jehoshaphat was also an able administrator, implementing judicial reforms (2 Chronicles 19:5-11) and religious reforms (2 Chronicles 17:3-9).

· Jehoshaphat was also the king connected to the famous incident when the army of Judah saw a great victory won as the Levites led the battle with praise (2 Chronicles 20:15-23).”

Stability was the order his reign. More than his father did, Jehoshaphat ‘exterminated the remnant of the male cult prostitutes who remained in the days of his father Asa.’ Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. Perhaps, these high places were consecrated for God as opposed to idolatrous practices. For we read in 2 Chron 17:6, “His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.” Commentator Adam Clarke wrote, “Allowing that the text is right in 2 Chronicles the two places may be easily recognized. There were two kinds of high places in the land: 1. Those used for idolatrous purposes. 2. Those that were consecrated to God, and were used before the temple was built. The former he did take away, the latter he did not.”

1 Kings 22:29-38 ESV

29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 34 But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” 35 And the battle continued that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, until at evening he died. And the blood of the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot. 36 And about sunset a cry went through the army, “Every man to his city, and every man to his country!”

37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. 38 And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the Lord that he had spoken.

DEATH IS AN APPOINTMENT.

As King Ahab put Micaiah in prison, he bragged about his coming back in peace from battle. Micaiah disagreed. Thus, he challenged everybody, by saying, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!” [v.28] Either Micaiah’s prediction was wrong or Ahab was deluded with his own presumption that he could control his destiny.

In this confrontation, the Syrian king made it clear to his 32 captains, saying, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” That is why, they turned back upon knowing that who they pursued was King Jehoshaphat, not King Ahab. However, they couldn’t locate king Ahab for he chose to disguise himself as he went to battle.

But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. This wasn’t incidental, was it? Ahab was able to hide from man. But, God had directed the arrow to strike him fatally through his armor. His death, as everyone’s death is, was an appointment. Hebrews 9:27 says, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”

There was a merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the marketplace I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was Death that jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture, now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there Death will not find me. The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and he dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went. Then the merchant went down to the marketplace and he saw Death standing in the crowd and he came to him and said, Why did you make a threating gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning? That was not a threatening gesture, he said, “It was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.”[by W. Somerset Maugham,1933]

The best of world’s mind may help us extend our lives, through medicines and technology. But, death is unpreventable and irreversible. 

1 Kings 22:15-28 ESV

15 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 16 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” 18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”

24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” 25 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” 26 And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son, 27 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, until I come in peace.” 28 And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!”

UNASHAMED.

The king of Israel asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” In the presence of a hostile crowd, he refused to be intimidated. Whatever he received from the Lord, he articulated everything before the king, unedited and uncensored.

Everyone did not like what they heard . Thus, Zedekiah slapped him on the cheek. For this, he assured Zedekiah that he would he would be hiding in his room when the defeat would happen. The king had instructed to incarcerate and starve him until his return from battle. Against such presumption, Micaiah made a bold statement, that is, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!”

A man of strong faith will always stand in the time of the crucible. He who fears God above all has nothing else to fear. Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”[Matt 10:28] Standing for jesus will surely pay off. He promised that, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.”[Mark 8:35]

Today like Micaiah, let’s stand unashamed for our God. Why? “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” [Mark 8:38]

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-1 Kings 22:9-14 ESV

9 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.” 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 12 And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

13 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”

CONVICTION

Due to Jehoshaphat’s insistence, the prophet Micaiah was summoned. As they waited for his arrival, the 400 prophets had displayed their antics at the threshing floor, reminiscent of the scene at Mt Carmel. They prophesied as a group before the two kings in one accord. They said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” Moreover, Zedekiah had used iron horns to act out symbolically the role of Ahab as he ‘gores’ the Arameans like an ox. [cf Ezek 4:1-5:4]

Meanwhile, the messenger who fetched Micaiah felt that the prophet would do the same. Perhaps, he thought of the pressure. Who is he against the king and the 400 prophets? However, he said unequivocally, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”

Without any doubt, Micaiah, as he was always before the king, had rooted for the truth, not the popular. He could have easily followed what is popular, convenient and comfortable at the moment. But, he did not. As a true prophet, he had committed himself to remain faithful as God’s spokesman.

In the Lord, the majority isn’t always right. In fact, following the crowd could be misleading. Since it’s theocracy not democracy, we’ve got to listen and heed only God’s voice. For, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”[Matt 24:35] His word is firmly fixed in the heavens.[Psa 119:89]

How do you value the word of God? Do you cherish the word of God as your most cherished treasure? May as Jeremiah, we would say, “ Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”[Jer 15:16] Christians should be men and women of convictions, not of convenience.

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