June 20 | Galatians 1:11-24
- Todd Marti
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Greater Good News
By Todd Marti
This week's readings have presented some bad news, but much greater good news.
The bad news is that we, as humans, are incapable of meeting God’s standards on our own, no matter how hard we try. That was exemplified by the two pillars of faith: Saints Peter and Paul. Peter denied Jesus and seemed to have gone back into his old way of life after Jesus’ passion. John 18:15-18; 25-27; John 21:1-19. Paul brutally persecuted the early church, and other scriptures reflect that he struggled at times even after he repented. Acts 8:1-3; Galatians 1:11-24; Philippians 3:6; 1 Timothy 1:13; Romans 7:18-25. Given that, it’s no surprise that all of us fall well short from time to time.
The good news is that God corrects and uses us, despite our sins. Jesus went to great pains to get Peter back on track, the Holy Spirit corrected some of his later missteps, and Peter rendered great service after those interventions. John 21:1-19; Acts 10; Galatians 2:11-14. Jesus intervened powerfully in Paul’s life, redirected him to avert later missteps, and Paul became one of the most impactful Christians who ever lived. Acts 9:1-28; Acts 16:6-10; Galatians 1:11-24; 1 Timothy 1:12-17.
Those were not isolated incidents; that dynamic is reflected multiple times throughout scripture. Two stand out. One is Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, recounted at Luke 15:11-32; it powerfully illustrates God’s desire to heal us after our sin. Another is Isaiah 55, where God offered bountiful grace to His old covenant people after their extensive sin and exile. Those and other scriptures powerfully demonstrate that that God’s grace is available to all who will accept it, no matter how egregious their prior sin.
So how do we access that tremendous grace? The parable of the prodigal son and Isaiah 55 also provide guidance on this. They outline three steps.
The first is to recognize that God will receive you, even if others or you yourself think He shouldn’t. The prodigal was warmly received despite his brother’s assertion that his sin disqualified him from grace. Similarly, Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us that God’s loving forgiveness far exceeds our expectations. As Psalm 103:10 and 11 tell us, God “does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” because “as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.” Don’t buy the evil one’s lie that your missteps, or even your deliberate sin, permanently separate you from God.
The second step is to actually come to God. The prodigal’s receipt of God’s grace began with his resolving to turn to God, to seek His grace. Luke 15:17-20. That is consistent with Isaiah 55:6 's direction to “seek the Lord while He may be found” and to “call upon Him.”
The third step is to accept God’s gracious response. It will come. We see that in the Father’s exuberant response to the prodigal’s return described in Luke 15:20-24. We also see that in Isaiah 55:7, where God promises that He “will have compassion” and “abundantly pardon” (NASB, emphasis added).
The bottom line is that our inevitable sin does not separate us from God’s boundless grace if we seek Him out. That is very good news indeed.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your boundless grace. Help us to remember that it is there, to seek it with confidence despite our guilt, and to accept it. Thank you, thank you. thank you. We say this in the name of Jesus, who gives us access to that Grace.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TODD MARTI
I have been connected to UALC since 2000 in various small groups and as a co-manager of the UALC Community Garden. I’m married to Kelly Marti, and the proud father of Sarah Marti. I am happy to be writing these devotions.
Amen!!