Galatians 3:3 is a question. Questions are the most amazing things. They draw me into conversation with Papa God. They make me listen to what follows.
This question is a bit abrasive. It rankles the hair on my perfectionist/performer neck. But then it frees me up.
How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
How foolish can you get? Apparently, top level advanced. This verse is me on a platter. Sigh.
Were you raised by a perfectionist? I was. And they came from a long line of generational perfectionism.
If you're walking in your perfectionism, you end up taking Grace and then you to turn Grace into a Law!
It is absurd. But how many times have I received a miracle - something so amazing and profound - something I could not have produced on my own... and then I use that Grace as a measure for judging others?
"They just don't get grace."
"They should know about miracles."
"They shouldn't walk in fear like that."
"They should be farther along in their knowledge of Scripture."
And, victim of grace that I am, as I think these judgmental thoughts I can almost feel my prideful head swell up inside and begin to leech down into my heart. Because perfectionism is like that. It is a JOY ROBBER!
There's another question later in Galatians 4:15, where Paul says,
"What happened to your joy?" (Your sense of being blessed?)
As I look over my life, every time I start to walk in perfectionism, I loose my Joy. But when I live in the Kingdom, I am marked by righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The lack of joy is the first symptom that I'm trying to do things on my own, even trying to do things "for" Jesus, when all my joy is wrapped up IN Him and WITH Him.
I am a recovering perfectionist/performer. If he can love me, He can love anyone. I am discovering JOY.
love,
©2019 Lydia D Crouch