Trust It; Galations series: Life in the Spirit - Tim Knipp

Master-crafted 
to reflect -
to deflect attention 
from ourselves -
we were form
without substance
until His Holy breath
in-spired us.

You have been conned
into a lie -
to think you could earn
the precious gift
of the indwelling Spirit
with human effort!
Did this amazing transformation -
the consummation
of flesh and Spirit -
come from
a man-made source,
or was it
a gift, dropped 
into your upheld hands?

Science is majestically
complex and intriguing
but falls short
of explaining
the excessive
beauty and intricate
designs like
signatures of a Master-hand.

Multiple spirit paths
lead many to higher planes,
yet all but one
eventually dead-end
in the maze
of Truth.

One path,
one gate -
not entered by accomplishments
or earned by brownie points,
but gifted
freely.

Christ died
to satisfy the curse
and fulfill the promise -
bringing the master plan
full circle:
the same breath 
that spoke galaxies
into motion
wants to enter
into all who believe.
Dry bones
animated,
in-spired.

Trust it.

Lay down striving

and simply marvel
at the miraculous gift
strewn upon us
like diamonds
glittering on the
water.

Trust it. 
Live into it.
Christ in
you.

Gen. 1:27; Gal. 3:1-14

Identify; Galations: Life in the Spirit - Jessica Mumley

Who is this face in the mirror?
These days I wonder
as the ground shifts
and things I thought
were stable
lie in ruins.

My shadow stretches
and flexes,
both wider
and more insubstantial
than ever.

Shaken,
I look for something stable
to ground me.

Peter had an earthquake moment
when he stopped celebrating
with non-Jews,
putting up obstacles
for many to trip over.

Paul's response?
This is so old school!
Put off the old 
measuring sticks
and don't ever pick 
them up again.
All that matters now
is that Christ died
and rose for each
one of us.
That's it.
Not rituals,
secret handshakes
or adherence to 
a complex set of rules.
If we could earn it
by effort
we wouldn't need Christ
and His death 
would be useless.

Remove the roles
we layer on 
to hide our nakedness.
Lay them down,
though we shiver
and quake
or we will never know
the skin-to-skin
intimacy
and our absolute
dependence
on Him.

I can list my qualifications,
all I've achieved
and overcome,
all I've held onto
and used to prop me up,
but all of this
is worse than useless,
no more than dung
on the bottom of my feet
compared to
knowing Christ.

I lay down my right
to hold onto anything stable
except my identity
in Christ.
Then, and only then,
can I really live
in a new dimension,
multi-layered
and intensely richer -
watch it shimmer
as it filters through
my spread 
fingers.

Gal. 2:11-13;19-21; Matt. 10:39; Phil. 3:4-5

No Borders: Galatians Series; Life in the Spirit - Tim Knipp

What matters is what
did not happen
when I checked in
with leaders
of the new church.

Daily life as usual in Galatia
had gone on 
pretty much the same 
with minor variations
until I arrived
with my 
mind-shifting news.
It was my privilege
to convert and baptize
hordes of you
before moving on.

As could be expected,
your reorientation
disrupted the daily rituals
and practices
you once cooperated with.
Many misunderstood
and whispered,
darting glances
like arrows.
Unlike exempted Jews,
your denial 
of pagan rites
could be seen as treason.
So you were ripe
for partial truths
disguised as answers:
"Three steps to exemption-status!"
"Do this and be safe!"

But beware
the forked tongues
that obscure deeper truths -
as if you could earn
God's favor and protection
by symbolic acts.
He is not a pagan god
who requires
sacrifice and outward 
exhibitions
before blessings
are yours.

When I presented 
my work before 
the disciples -
that of preaching
salvation by grace
and grace alone 
to the Gentiles -
I was applauded.
Not a word 
was spoken
about converts
needing to become
Jewish.
They understood
what you have not:
that all people are welcomed
into God's family now -
all skin colors, family origins,
linguistic variations
and cultures -
there are no borders
in the Christian kingdom
and visas are granted
to all who believe,
without qualification.

So do not be tripped up
by cultural preferences
disguised as requirements.
Open wide your arms
and embrace the 
holistic good news
and your kin
who may look,
speak and approach
worship differently
but who are your
brothers and sisters
nonetheless. 

Galatians 2: 1-10