Obsession

I'm studying through the book of Galatians right now and just yesterday I finished up the first chapter. The last few verses of chapter 1 Paul does a lot of talking about how he really is who he says he is (an apostle of Christ). I wasn't really concerned with the fact that he goes to great lengths to show that he was in fact an apostle. The reason for my lack of concern for that in particular is because there was necessity in showing that to these particular people (and others that Paul was writing to). He had to substantiate his claims to WHO he was to validate the MESSAGE (the Gospel) he taught. Not that the message wasn't valid prior to his teaching it to them - do not misunderstand this - truth is always truth, whether we acknowledge it or not. As much as I can boil it down - there were some people who were trying to tear Paul down by making a bunch of accusations against him and the message he taught SO THAT the people to whom Paul is writing would cease to rely on the true message of the Gospel because they thought that Paul's testimony was false.

Here was what I was really wanting to say though.

"And they glorified God because of me." - Galatians 1:24

Paul was OBSESSED with God! He is so passionate about God's glory that he doesn't use all the things that are true about him to give himself glory - he points out that people were glorifying God. If you read anything that Paul wrote - you can tell that he honestly lived his life to the glory of God. He found his joy and completion in Christ. I want to be more obsessed with God...all the time.