Interest

Today, Paul completes his letter to the Galatians with some thoughts that raise an interesting question.


Galatians 6
11 Notice what large letters I use as I write these closing words in my own handwriting. 12 Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. 13 And even those who advocate circumcision don’t keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples. 14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. 15 It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. 16 May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. 17 From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus. 18 Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.


Interest. I love where Paul writes, “…my interest in this world has been crucified”. Most people are familiar with the definition of crucified … the idea of putting someone to death by nailing them to a cross. Did you know that it also means “to destroy the power of”? For Paul, what Jesus did on the cross had destroyed the power of his interest in this world. What interests you in this world? Money? Power? Popularity? Family? Success? Control? Health? More importantly, what power do those interests have over you? Are they the driving force of your life? Do they consume your thoughts? Your time? Your energy? I guess the real question is what difference the cross of Jesus has really made in your life. Are you pretty much the same person that encountered “that cross”? Same goals? Same desires? Same passions? Same interests? Or have you truly been “transformed into a new creation”? That’s an interesting question.