ABBA, FATHER…
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Opening Prayer
Father, as I read your Word today, use it to guide my steps wherever you lead me. Help me to walk with joy, knowing who I am in Christ and that, in him, is freedom and victory.
Read GALATIANS 4:8–20
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:9 Or principles
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What things do you look forward to that, in actuality, are really ‘done deals’?
A few years ago, on the Pacific coast of North America, animal- rights activists managed to set a whale free from an aquarium beside the ocean. What happened next was remarkable. The whale swam some distance, spent a short time at sea and then returned voluntarily to the aquarium. It had decided that it was better off being looked after in captivity than fending for itself in the dangerous and difficult world outside. Paul here laments that the Galatian Christians had turned back to weak and miserable principles1 preferring slavery over freedom (v. 9).
The issue highlighted now is the observance of special festivals. What is the problem here? After all, don’t we all celebrate and enjoy special days? The Galatians were observing Jewish festivals, the point being that in doing so, they looked forward to the great act of redemption that God would one day accomplish. The whole point of the gospel that they had accepted was that he already had accomplished it.
Since the start of the letter, Paul has articulated a step-by-step theological argument. At verse 12 he is like a lecturer in full teaching mode: he pauses, takes off his glasses, and has a heart-to-heart moment with the students. Initially, Paul reminisces on the level of care they’d shown to him in the past. Then comes the piercing question, ‘Where, then, is your blessing of me now?’ (v. 15). How Paul longs for them to savor once more the freedom they’d discovered, rather than the retreat back to a form of captivity. It would do us all well to pause for a moment and assess the joy we’ve known in our faith journey and how it compares with what we feel now.
Apply
I wonder if the blessing question made you sit up and take notice, as it did me.
Closing prayer
Lord God, give me courage to always choose proclaiming your truth, even when there are those who may be offended by it.
1 Gal 4:9 ESV
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