The last of Paul’s 5 rhetorical questions.
Here’s one of my questions first: Can you remember a wonderful answer to prayer God gave you or maybe you hadn’t actually prayed but it was an out-of-the-blue gracious move of God? Hold that thought as we return to Paul’s question here:
“So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?” (Galatians 3 v 5)
Back to that answer to prayer that you have remembered: why did God do that? Was it because you were good or trying to be so? Or was it because He is good and you believe in Him?
Let me write something that does need qualifying but nevertheless is perfectly true and what Paul is saying.
The Spirit works when Christians don’t.
When I was in school my teachers time and again said, ‘Paul would do better if he tried’ and eventually that message gripped my life. I see it a lot in others. Wherever that message came from it did damage.
The greatest discipleship lesson is this: Train yourself not to follow the way of the world but follow the way of Christ – it is about what He did and who we are in Him. It is not about you trying but definitely applying what has been done by Him to every aspect of your life.
When we do not rely on our work to see God move and do miracles then He does just that.
Missions Paul 