Galatians 1:23-24 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.

Rebuke. Chasten. Marvel. Paul’s heart was heavy as he wrote this epistle to the Galatian churches. He wondered how they could have been so soon removed from the faith of the Gospel. He knew that they had allowed men to pervert their doctrine and view of Christ and the Gospel. He wrote for the purpose that he might, if by any chance, convince the Galatians to return to the true doctrine of the Gospel.

Paul takes time in the first chapter to give his credentials for writing and preaching. He writes of his conversion. He writes of his call by the Lord Himself. He writes of His Gospel that he preached – one not after man, but after God. He then makes a case for his honesty and sincerity, again, to the end that he might get them to return to the Lord. Those who serve in ministry have been here. We’ve written these kinds of letters. We’ve had these kind of meetings. We can relate with some of Paul’s heart.

However, the verse that sticks out this morning is one that is slipped in at the end of the chapter. It doesn’t have to do so much with his convincing them, but it has everything to do with his ministry. He says the brethren “that he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.” Is not that the purpose of our lives? We can persuade men. We can cry over the lost. We can do the work of the ministry. But ultimately, our life’s purpose is the glory of God. If we were saved out of a life of sin, we ought to give tribute to the grace of God that led us to repentance. This brings glory to God. If we were sheltered from a life of sin, as we point others to Christ, we ought to point them to that same grace that works in our lives. This will bring glory to God. Today, let us seek how we can bring glory to His name through, in (through) us. For, Romans 11:36 reminds us that “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”