Faith or superstition
JOne lady was expecting her neighbours for coffee. She thought about their last visit when they gossiped about Mara (imaginary name), because now she has preapred everything perfectly and and hope that they won't gossip her. Everything has to be perfect. She made a list so she wouldn't forget something. And so, they came and she gave them a coffee. When they finished, she has cleared a table to prepare it for the next thing on the list, but because she didn't mark that she has already made a coffe, she did it again. And she did it following couple of times. The neighbours couldn't wait to visit another neighbour and share their opinions. As soon as they sat down, they commented about how forgetful their neighbour is. One of these said, thanks to the Lord, I'm not as forgetful as she is, let me knock the table. After she knocked the table three times, she lifted her head up, listened around and surprisingly said: Who is it?
This is funny story, but it's in the same time story that draws our people. We find so any superstition in our surrounding.I have a friend which waits for someoene else to cross the road before him if he sees the black cat crossing the street. Even if he drives a car, he'll withdraw his own legs so the passenger's legs could pass first. People do silly things. They keep some things because they think that they bring them a luck. In their pockets some of them have an old sock or neckleace, etc. And for the ones that are looking it from aside it looks funny. But still, we all have something that we do or don't so the things would happened for our gain. Some of us, when are found in some uncertain situation, are getting angry or get through great despair, in belief that if they suffer now it must be better later. Like that some invisible force will take pity on them and help them because they have suffered enough.
It's expected that superstition disappears when we start believing in God. Unfortunately it's not always like that. I know some people which claim that they believe in God, but their faith consists only of wearing some "magic powers" or specially blessed cross in their pockets. In this case faith equals superstition. There are also people who are wearing things for luck, so because of that they believe that if they do some sort of submission or ir they pray a certain prayer, God will turn things into their profits. Same question is asked again – Is that faith or a superstition? Maybe you feel confuesed now and ask yourself – So what is it faith? That's a good question, because the faith is not related with doing or wearing certain things, but it includes you and your heart.
We find that even the first believers has had a same problem. Apostle Paul was writing about this in Galatians. Believers who were born Hebrews, although they were converted to Christianity and adopted the faith in God, just in case they kept some old habits. I believe that even today there are people who do the same. They trust God, but it's better if they take care of themselves. Some people say that it's written in Bible: Take care of yourself, so God will take care of you. I read Bible couple of times from cover to cover and I didn't find such a thing. I heard a prayer of one man on a prayer meeting: God please help to my brothers and sisters who are earnestly praying to You, and I will take care of myself.
Gal.3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified?
Did someone bring a crucified Jesus into Galatia? No. Paul spoke about the portrayed cross, that Jesus did everything for us and we don't have to do anything else, but accept His grace and allow Him to be our Lord. There is the difference between a superstition and faith. When you're superstitious, that includes that YOU need to do something so you'd be sure that everything is going to be OK. While in other hand faith is when you allow GOD to lead you through this life, because He cares for you. 
Gal.3:2: I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
In our situation: did you receive the Holy Spirit (Merciful gift of Salvation, Lord, Teacher, Defender, Friend, the One who does everything well for those who love Him) by doing certain things or because you believed with all of your heart and gave yourself to God completely?
Gal.3:3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?
Beginning with Spirit – receive the Spirit, to have a Spirit, to have a leadership of the Spirit? Holy Spirit is the third person of a triune God. As much as it's hard for us to understand how can it be, whether we believe the entire Bible or just what suits us and what we make sense. Even if I don't understand some things yet, I believe that the whole Bible is inspired and truthful. What we can and need to understand is that Holy Spirit is a person. Galatians didn't receive some new teaching that was better than others and easier to maintain, but they have experienced a new relationship with one adorable person, the Holy Spirit. Paul explains later in the chapter 5 of the Galatians what are the fruits of the body and what are the fruits of the Spirit. While we read this it can happen that we say, we don't have those fruits in our lives (it's related to both types of fruit). However, it's good to know that even if we don't see ourselves, or the fruits that we have, it doesn't mean that the others don't see it. Just ask – if you have courage or you just want to know. The fruits will surely appear. Just, if we live by body (our acts and will) then we'll have fruits of the body, but if we live by Spirit (in fellowship with God) then we'll have fruits of the Spirit.
Gal.3:4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain?
You can experience things only if you have fellowship with God. Fellowship with God? Yes, but do I need a faith for this? Yes! It is the faith, wonderful gift to experience supernatural things from our nature. If our faith doesn't lead us to this relationship, then something isn't right. IS IT REALLY IN VAIN? What dit Paul think about it? Paul didn't write to unbelievers nor ones out of the church, but to the believers which are in churches every sunday, but they forgot about fellowship with and obedience to God. No matter how many things God does in our lives somehow it's just not enough so we pray, give us more. We easily come to a place where we ask: Where are you God? Did you forget us?
But it's not in vain! God has changed us and we can't go back. We've exeperienced something that wasn't in vain. We just need to wake up, get out of the devil's trap and move toward God, because we still haven't experienced everything.
Gal.3:5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?
Can we ensure our destiny by doing some rituals? Do we approach to a faith in God like some insurance that everything will be well in our lives? But what if everything goes wrong? Pauls says that we won't experience miracles just because we do everything we need, but it will happen because we trust God for everything! Even if everything goes wrong we don't lose our hope, but we trust in God's provision. There is a song that says: You give and take away, but my heart will chose to say blessed be Your name. That's why David prays in Ps.23. – even though I'm walking through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall not fear... I believe You! Where is our faith when things aren't going the way we expected? Is our prayer then, help them, but I will take care of myself?
Life is full of choices. Every day we need to choose something. The same thing is with the decision whether we'll live by faith or we won't. Will you live by faith today? Or?
In Gal.3:6-9 Paul explains exactly what we'd like, and that's the wish to be blessed. God blessed Abraham because of his faith. We receive the same blessing if we trust Him. If we trust Him for all of our life: for kids, finance, health, and if you're young – for the future and what are you going to become, for the love of your lives and much more. What would you like to be blessed with, don't worry about it, but trust God and enjoy in fellowship with Him.
Bernard Mikulic
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