In the book of Galatians Paul tells the church, that the gospel he preaches is not after man but after God. He didn’t receive it from a man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. He was an abuser of the early church until God revealed who he was to Paul.  Paul helped kill early Christians for going against the teaching of the corrupt leaders of the Jews. The very ones who had Jesus crucified.

Three years after his Damascus Road experience, Paul went to Jerusalem to see Peter and was taught by him for fifteen days. He then started preaching Jesus to the people.  All of the early churches had their issues, just like the churches of today. Until the people of God really get serious about doing the right thing, we will continue to deal with issues caused by our sins. We need to accept the full truth of the word and make it a part of us.

Paul told them in chapter four how they had treated him so well and almost put him on a pedestal until he told them the truth. Gal 4:13-16  ¹³ Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.  ¹⁴ And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. ¹⁶ Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Many today want a form of godliness. They want people to think they are good. They have illusions of being saved when they are full of sin and do not want the truth of God’s word. 2 Tim 4:3-4   3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

I don’t want God to give up on me and let me believe something that will comfort my flesh.  I want the truth and nothing but the truth, even if it hurts.  I want the old-fashioned preaching that gets all over my toes.  I don’t need a fake smile and a motivational speech that it’s all a bed of roses. I need someone to tell me about the thorns on those roses.  Life is full of pain sometimes, anyone telling you differently is trying to deceive you.  But God will give us strength to endure the pain that life often brings.

We can find a way to endure the pain and come out on the other side stronger. It also adds to our testimony of how God helped us through it. If you are like me and want the truth, dig into the word of God. Jesus said he was the way the truth and the life. We can never go wrong with the whole truth.

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