12/21/2023: Galatians 1:18-19 – God is at work today for things that may be years in the future.

 

Galatians 1:18-19 (NKJV)

¹⁸ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

Thought for today – God is at work today for things that may be years in the future.

Why would Paul think it important to state that he only spent 15 days in Jerusalem and 3 years in Arabia before he started his ministry?  In the previous verses, Paul explained in detail that the doctrine and theology he taught was what he had learned directly from Jesus Christ.  The rest of the letter will be devoted to correcting some wrong doctrine and false teaching that had become prominent in the Galatian churches, and before he confronted this issue, Paul wanted to be very clear that his message did not come from any human source, but that it came directly from Jesus.  Paul could not even have gotten it from Peter or James because he spent such a short time in Jerusalem.  All this occurred back then so that Paul could address the current issues effectively.

That’s what the Book says!