Setting – Paul now approaches the legalism issue based upon his affection/concern for them
Content – Paul wants the Galatians to live in freedom like he does (v. 12-NLT) “I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles were--free from the law” After this statement he recalls the circumstances when he was with them (v. 13-NLT) “Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News of Christ”. Even though he was sick they didn’t ignore or despise him (v. 14) “But even though my sickness was revolting to you, you did not reject me and turn me away” The Galatians were so willing to help Paul (v. 15-NLT) “I know you would gladly have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible.” [This is a figurative statement]. In comparison to that time, had the Galatians rejected Paul (v. 16) “Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?” This might happen because of (v. 17) “Those false teachers who are so anxious to win your favor are not doing it for your good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay more attention to them.”
Paul is affected by their current situation (v. 19, 20-NLT) “But oh, my dear children! I feel as if I am going through labor pains for you again” & “How I wish I were there with you right now, so that I could be more gentle with you. But at this distance I frankly don't know what else to do”
Application – For those who oversee or lead others in their walk and growth with Christ (such as parents), yearn for success in those we lead. When we see that they a falling short of either what they are capable of or from the truth, we ache for them to correct their ways. Paul felt the same for the Galatians “I feel as if I am going through labor pains for you again”.
I wonder how God sees us in our current situation. Is He glad for where we are at? Does He find us falling short of what we are capable of or not aligning to the truth? Just a child doesn’t always perfectly align to what we would want them to be; God knows we are weak and sinful creatures. But God is patient toward us, as we should be with our children and those we lead, He still wants us to be in the right direction; and by no means going backwards. We need to take a step back and take inventory of our current life and see if we were God would we see us going in the right direction? [Note: Many who are ultra critical of themselves won’t correctly view their situations. They will see that they aren’t perfect and be unrealistically hard on themselves. It’s not perfection, but direction that needs to be evaluated.]
Content – Paul wants the Galatians to live in freedom like he does (v. 12-NLT) “I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles were--free from the law” After this statement he recalls the circumstances when he was with them (v. 13-NLT) “Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News of Christ”. Even though he was sick they didn’t ignore or despise him (v. 14) “But even though my sickness was revolting to you, you did not reject me and turn me away” The Galatians were so willing to help Paul (v. 15-NLT) “I know you would gladly have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible.” [This is a figurative statement]. In comparison to that time, had the Galatians rejected Paul (v. 16) “Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?” This might happen because of (v. 17) “Those false teachers who are so anxious to win your favor are not doing it for your good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay more attention to them.”
Paul is affected by their current situation (v. 19, 20-NLT) “But oh, my dear children! I feel as if I am going through labor pains for you again” & “How I wish I were there with you right now, so that I could be more gentle with you. But at this distance I frankly don't know what else to do”
Application – For those who oversee or lead others in their walk and growth with Christ (such as parents), yearn for success in those we lead. When we see that they a falling short of either what they are capable of or from the truth, we ache for them to correct their ways. Paul felt the same for the Galatians “I feel as if I am going through labor pains for you again”.
I wonder how God sees us in our current situation. Is He glad for where we are at? Does He find us falling short of what we are capable of or not aligning to the truth? Just a child doesn’t always perfectly align to what we would want them to be; God knows we are weak and sinful creatures. But God is patient toward us, as we should be with our children and those we lead, He still wants us to be in the right direction; and by no means going backwards. We need to take a step back and take inventory of our current life and see if we were God would we see us going in the right direction? [Note: Many who are ultra critical of themselves won’t correctly view their situations. They will see that they aren’t perfect and be unrealistically hard on themselves. It’s not perfection, but direction that needs to be evaluated.]
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