A Word from Galatians 1 and Matthew 13

Do you ever find yourself wishing that the love for God you feel on Sunday morning was a little bit easier to maintain on Monday morning? Maybe I’m the only one who feels this way; but there are times when it’s so easy to feel close to God amid the worship, and study, and fellowship we share in church; while it’s so difficult to feel the same when confronted by the demands of a new work week.

But in today’s word (or words) from Galatians 1 and Matthew 13, we see that we’re not the only ones who’ve struggled with keeping our hearts in the right place. But we also see that part of the solution to our struggle comes in understanding what we’ve been given.

In Galatians 1, Paul is speaking to some believers who embraced the gospel wholeheartedly (and let’s call that “Sunday morning”). But it wasn’t long before the power of their normal routines kicked in (and let’s call that “Monday morning”). And so, Paul had to warn them about the mistake they were making. “ I am astonished,” he wrote, “that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.” (Gal. 1:6-7) You see, they delighted in grace at one point. But then, they went out into the world and tried to handle life on their own terms.

So, how do we avoid that mistake? Well, in Matthew 13, Jesus tells a little parable about the value of what we celebrate on Sunday morning. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,” he said. “When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Mt. 13:44)

And so, I wonder. On this Monday morning, could we remember the treasure we celebrated on Sunday morning? Let’s give thanks again for the grace, and the community, and the hope that God has given us. And if we do that, maybe we won’t “desert the one who called us to live in the grace of Christ.” And we’ll be able to maintain the joy of knowing where our treasure is. Amen.