Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Monday, March 23, Galatians 1:13

"For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it." (KJV)

When you read this, you can hardly believe that this is the same person. Yet, when we read the book of Acts, we see this: (as you read, note that Paul is called by his Hebrew name Saul)

"And Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." (Acts 9:1-2)

The scars of that period remained with him, as we can read in 1 Corinthians 15:9: "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."

There are scars we hold as well, which, if we dwell on them can make writhe in despair and wonder why God would forgive us for our sinfulness. Whenever we look deeply into ourselves, we see the ugly, secret things that many times still plague us, and can drive us to despair if we let it. But we then see Paul's response:

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed." (10-11)

But by the grace of God. This is why Paul is going to be so vehement in stemming this false teaching plaguing the early church. We will see this as we progress in this letter.

When I read about Paul, it gives me great hope. What I was has all been forgiven by the Grace of God through what Jesus has done. What I struggle with is no longer a slave to sin, but a child who is learning. He has taken my sinfulness and put His righteousness upon me. He had to crucify my old nature and replace it with a new one.

When you truly understand this, you understand the passage in Ephesians 2:9: "Not of works, lest any man should boast." For our works lead us to self-glorification, and when we examine those paltry attempts, we realize how utterly useless they are. Then we see what Solomon saw: that all works under the sun are vanity and chasing the wind.

That's why Ephesians 2:8-10 are the nearest to what I could call "life verses", though all Scripture brings life in different facets. But it speaks first that salvation is a "laying down of arms", so to speak, and acknowledging that it is only by faith in the work of Christ that I can be saved from myself and everything else. And that He not only gave me mercy, forgiving me when I am guilty, but grace, giving me His favor as well and making me righteous by His righteousness!

For people can still be forgiven of a crime and still have to pay the penalty, but Christ paid the penalty as well, and rewarded me with a new birth into His glorious Kingdom, reconciling me to God forever!

And then, while no works I do can save me, He has good works prepared for me. Works "above the sun", heavenly, "in the Son"! Then my good works are truly good, because I abide in His glory, and understand that only in His glory was I meant to exist, and then we no longer sense the "nakedness" of the first Adam, but the "clothing" of the last Adam, Jesus Christ himself.

"For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (2 Corinthians 5:4).

And here is the best part of it all: "He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee" (5).

So, think about that this Monday, and glorify Him who gave you new life. If you do not know Him:

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*KJV used*

Memory Helps

"For ye have HEARD
of my CONVERSATION

IN time past
IN the Jews' religion,

how that beyond MEASURE
I PERSECUTED the church of God,
and WASTED it."

For me, physical actions are what works the best with this. Plus, I must break it down and learn little by little until I master it.

The first couplet I will start with 4 fingers for "For" and touch my ear for "Heard", then my mouth for "Conversation".

Couplet two I emphasize IN then point to a clock for "time past" and then cup my hand to the top of my head to simulate a "yarmulke" which is that round little cap Jews wear.

Then I take a "yardstick", my symbol for "measure", grab an imaginary "cute purse" (persecute) from a member of "the church of God", and throw it in the trash (wasted it).

That's a lot to say and do, but you'll be surprised how your mind will follow the links if you recite the passage OUT LOUD a few times, not moving to the next segment until the first is down pat.

Linking verse numbers:

My memory character for verses 13, I use "tiny TiM" of "A Christmas Carol" fame. He is wearing a big bow Tie to remind me that this is chapter 1, so I can link Galatians 1:13 to this verse. (T=1, M=3, vowels fillers)