“Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father” (Galatians 4:1-2).

This illustration is significant, for it speaks of direction, intent, and hope.  We are to be slaves to the Gospel, but we will not remain there.  The day will come when we shall stand face to face with Christ and know Him even as we have been fully known.  What then?  Only this: that in Christ is all hope and He is accomplishing what was promised beforehand in all who believe in the grace He gives.

Lord, help me to see the truth that You have revealed.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life that I may be guided in Your goodness and mercy.  Help me, O Lord, to know that in You alone is all hope and that what You are doing through Christ in me is making of me something new and different.  Lead me, O Lord, now and always that I may hold fast to the truth of Your will.

Lord Jesus, in You is all hope and a future.  You are the way, so lead me in You that I may go where You would have me go.  Guide me this day to live into the life for which You have created me and keep me ever close to You.  In Your goodness, help me look to you and know that what You said to the disciples I pray You will one day say to me and call me Your friend.  In the Father’s will, lead me always.  Amen.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us – for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” – in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14).

Christ overcame the curse upon the law.  Those who claim the law as the essential thing dismiss Christ.  Friends, it is about your relationship with Christ.  The rest of it is quite secondary.  Do not go back into the territory of wanting what has already been overcome.  Live in the freedom which is yours through Christ and know that in Him alone is all hope and the promise that comes only through faith.

Scripture says that we are justified by faith apart from works of the law.  It is further said that we are saved by grace through faith in order to be eternally united with the Father.  Why settle for the elemental and no longer relevant things?  Come into the freedom of walking humbly with your Lord and Savior, Be guided by His goodness that you would know the truth and be forever set free.

Lord Jesus, You are the way, truth, and life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would not wander as some do.  Keep me from the snares from which You have already freed me.  Help me now and always to know that in You alone is all hope and a future.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may follow in Your grace and mercy and live by faith according to the Father’s good and gracious will.  Amen. 

“However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them” (Galatians 3:12).

The law is not of faith.  Why do some speak of spiritual laws?  Faith is believing God at His Word.  Faith is trusting God in His promises.  Ultimately, do you want to live by your ability, or by what God has promised?  Trust in the Lord always and know that in His goodness He will bring to pass all that He has promised.  Live by faith and not by works that You may be assured of salvation.

Lord, it is so tempting to be afraid and trust only in what I see.  Guide me, Lord, through the maze of this world that I would be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of faith and away from making a law out of things.  In Your goodness, O Lord, You have given me the promises of hope and assurance.  Why would I trade these in for anything else?  Help me trust in You and keep me from evil.

Lord Jesus, You have fulfilled the law.  In You all things find their completion.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may know the breadth, depth, and wonder of Your love.  Keep me on the narrow path of faith that I may learn more and more how trustworthy You are and how little this age can be trusted.  Lead me, Lord, in the way You know I need to go and then help me cling to You always.  Amen.

“Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11).

It is here that many depart.  Or at least it seems so.  We say we are justified by faith, so why do so many live as though they must do something?  Is not the grace of Christ sufficient?  Yes, and more than that, it demonstrates the difference Christ makes as we become what He is shaping us to be by conforming us to His image.  Come then on the journey that Christ has prepared.

Lord, You must lead and I must follow.  Guide me, O Lord, that I would indeed follow where You lead.  You have fulfilled the law and it is what lies beyond that matters and not whether I can figure out how to obey the law too.  Lead me as You have all the saints that I may live into this new life You have in store for all who are walking or have walked this life of faith in grace.

Lord Jesus, there are many things You have taught Your disciples.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may walk in the newness of life that You give by grace.  Let me see and understand the law with new eyes, with Your eyes.  In all things, empower me by Your grace that I would be one who is following You always.  You have given me faith.  Teach me how to live by that faith that I may become like You.  Amen.

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them” (Galatians 3:10).

The curse is real and we are under it.  But, through the death of Christ on the cross, the power of sin has lost its sting.  The power of sin is the law and Christ has overcome by perfectly fulfilling for us what was needed.  This does not give us permission to do as we please, but liberty to live out the goodness of God’s love and direction in a world that is constantly at war with God and one another.

Lord, teach me these invaluable lessons that I would not be hindered by wrong thinking or a lack of action.  Guide me into the life You are preparing for me that I would now and always look to You, the source of all life, for guidance.  Let me not live as one cursed, but as one who has been set free to live in the power You give to become a child of the Heavenly Father.  Lead me in through and by all the means You know are necessary.

Lord Jesus, You did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill it.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always be guided in the truth toward You and all that You have in store for those who follow in Your footsteps.  You know all that is needed.  Help me to trust You more and more each day so that I can journey truly with You in the way You know I need to go.  Amen.

“The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”  So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer” (Galatians 3:8-9).

The Lord knows all things and He has seen the end from the beginning.  Come then into the life the Lord has called you knowing that He knew you before you were in your mother’s womb.  Be guided in the goodness of the Lord and walk by faith.  Believe in the Lord and be filled with His presence, purpose, and power.  He has made all people and they are ones for whom He has prepared salvation.

Lord, the world segregates, separates, and divides.  You call all people to Yourself in the way of salvation. Lead me, Lord, through the noise of this world and help me to hear Your voice above all other voices.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of life and life everlasting.  Keep me close to You now and always that I may life into the life You have given me through faith and be one who consistently lives out what I believe.

Come Holy Spirit and guide my heart this day.  You have blessed me with Your guidance.  Direct me in the way of life that is eternal.  Let me not waste my time on things of this world that do not matter, but instead focus upon the good things of life which are right in You.  Turn my eyes to see more clearly, love more dearly, and always follow the directions You give me each day.  Amen.

“Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.  Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:6-7).

Faith, believing, and not works are the central focus in being reconciled with the Lord.  Yes, our actions matter, but they are not the central thing.  What Christ has done is the central thing.  He has reconciled us through faith that we might gain adoption as children of God.  To this the Lord prepared from the foundation of the earth the great prize of salvation for all who have faith.

Lord, grant that I would be a son/daughter of Abraham.  Grant that I would not do these things the way I want, but the way You direct, that my belief would be based upon Your direction.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may know the way of life and life everlasting.  Let me always look to You for and through all things, for in You alone is all hope and life. 

Lord Jesus, You have accomplished for all who believe what we could never do for ourselves.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may walk humbly with You leading the way as You conform me as a son/daughter of Abraham.  Keep my eyes upon You and not upon this world that I may live truly by faith and my belief be guided by Your goodness and example.  Amen.

“So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” (Galatians 3:5)

Who is able to do anything good apart from God?  There are no real workers of miracles, only those who are given charism that the Lord gives which enables them to have God’s power flow through them. Even the breath we breath is a gift of God.  Do not then boast of things you can do when it is the Lord who is in and through all things.  Trust in the Lord and walk according to His ways.

Lord, let me not fall into the trap of thinking that I can do anything apart from You.  Guide me in the way of life for which You died that I might live as Yours.  Teach me day by day all I need to know that I may be guided by You alone and not by my ego or any other thing.  Lead me, O Lord, and help me to always follow.  Do through me whatever You choose to do that I may give witness of Your presence in my life.

Lord Jesus, You are the author and finisher of all of our faith.  Guide Your faithful that together we may give witness of Your presence and purpose in this life.  Let me not ever claim what is not mine, but always give thanks for Your goodness which shines through all I do.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may be empowered to follow.  Use me, O Lord, that I may show forth Your goodness.  Amen.

While I had met Bishop Paull Spring a few times over the years, our real contact began late in 2005. I had made the mistake of not attending a meeting (the Kansas City Conference), and in my absence I was elected to the Steering Committee of the new Lutheran Coalition for Reform (as it was called then).

Before our first meeting, Paull called and asked whether I would be willing to take the minutes of the meeting. And so the journey began, often together.

Paull was, as a friend described in a positive way, a true character. He was a unique individual, and was not bashful about letting people know his thoughts and opinions. But he would also listen and respond rationally to opposing viewpoints.

As an ELCA bishop from a relatively small rural synod (Northwestern Pennsylvania), Paull was known as the theological conscience of the Conference of Bishops. He developed strong friendships and equally strong dislikes among the group. Paull was not one of those boring people who needed everybody to like him, and he did not suffer fools gladly.

Yet it was Paull Spring who met with Pr. Jaynan Clark of the WordAlone Network, as those two leaders who had very different views on many issues in the ELCA realized that the things they agreed about were more important than the ones that separated them. Probably nobody else would have had the credibility to lead the generally eastern and “liturgical” group into an alliance with the mostly-midwestern and “evangelical” (in the American sense) constituency of WordAlone. But thanks to Paull and Jaynan as the initiators, it happened.

I always enjoyed meetings Paull led, because by about the 50-minute point he would shuffle nervously, and soon he would call a recess so he could go outside and puff on his pipe. Of course, his smoking got him in trouble from time to time. Once at the Indianapolis Airport I was sure we would be arrested waiting for a shuttle as he insisted on lighting his pipe beneath a sign threatening prosecution for smoking. And he recounted the time he thought he had found a secret place to smoke during a Pittsburgh Pirates game, but when his family realized he had been gone a long time, they discovered security was in the process of removing him from the stadium.

Paull not only got himself into quite a few mishaps, he delighted in telling about them. As I have heard stories from mutual friends over the years, I realized that I heard most of them from Paull himself. He didn’t take himself all that seriously, but he certainly took his theology seriously.

Riding in a vehicle he was driving was a spiritual experience. I repented of most of my sins on such trips, starting when he let go of the steering wheel at 75 mph on an Ohio Interstate so he could light his pipe. He thought I was kind and generous to do most of the driving; I viewed it as self-preservation.

Paull had strong feelings about hotels and restaurants. He insisted on a hotel where he could smoke his pipe (no surprise there). A glass of wine in the evening with the manager only made the facility more attractive. And he never did like my choice in restaurants. After the biker bar that was recommended to us in Akron (which had great food), I just left it up to him to find our dining places.

Paull also never quite forgave me for a certain church service we attended. I will omit the city and congregation. The congregation was rainbow-friendly, and the liturgy was magnificent until Paull turned around at the sharing of the peace and saw two older men kissing on the lips. The look on his face was priceless. Like at the biker bar.

That said, at Churchwide Assemblies Lutheran CORE usually had a room next to the organization advocating acceptance of same-sex sexual relationships. To most people’s amazement, our groups had cordial relationships. When the folks from the next room invited Paull to their worship service, he accepted. But he was about as comfortable as he was at that biker bar in Akron.

When the time came to choose a bishop for the first year of the NALC, there really was no other option. Paull had the credibility, the respect, and the organizational skills to make it happen. And he had the theological acumen to get us started in the right directions.

Paull and I continued to connect through the years, sometimes at events and sometimes as Linda and I worshipped at the congregation he helped start in State College, Pennsylvania. Paull and I didn’t always agree on things (including politics), but we were always able to share with mutual respect. I wrote a few things along the way that disturbed people in the NALC, but if Paull wrote a response, he always made sure I received a copy directly from him. He was generous with his praise, helpful with his criticisms, and always a true gentleman and a faithful follower of Christ.

I visited him at the hospital in State College earlier this year, and he knew how sick he was. In typical Paull fashion, as I walked into the room, he blurted out, “I almost died, you know!” And the last time we were together, at a worship service in Emmanuel in State College, I asked how he was doing and he barked, “Not as good as I used to be.” That sort of blunt realism characterized so many of my experiences with him.

I will miss seeing him again this side of eternity, and I trust that our Lord has prepared a good supply of pipe tobacco, since near the end he was even unable to enjoy that guilty pleasure.

I thank God for the privilege of knowing and working with this unique and delightful (even when grumpy) saint. His example, his faithfulness, and his hard work will be a blessing to the North American Lutheran Church and beyond for generations to come. My prayers continue for his wife Barbara and for their daughters.

May Paull Spring rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon him!