In The Word
Read: Galatians 4:8-5:1
8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
12 I beg of you, brothers and sisters, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; 14 and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition, nor express contempt, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They eagerly seek you, not in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable way, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for I am at a loss about you!
Slave and Free
21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the Law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from Mount Sinai giving birth to children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. 27 For it is written:
“Rejoice, infertile one, you who do not give birth;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For the children of the desolate one are more numerous
Than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 And you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time the son who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, so it is even now. 30 But what does the Scripture say?
“Drive out the slave woman and her son,
For the son of the slave woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.
Follow the Spirit
5 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
The truth is difficult to hear sometimes. We may have someone tell us the truth about an issue in our lives, but we do not want to face that truth. Similarly, we may be in a situation where we need to share the truth with someone. That truth may confront them, and we might be concerned about their response. Paul may have found himself in the latter situation as he said, “So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16). It seemed the truthful message that the Galatians once received from Paul with joy, they now shunned.
Paul was willing to share the truth with his listeners because that was the mission God gave him. How else would the people come to believe in Yahshua and repent of their sins unless Paul told them the truth? Paul could not control the people’s reaction, he could only control himself by maintaining a heart of love and using words led by the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we may need to share the truth knowing that the listener we care for may react negatively, reject the truth, or reject us. Should that stop us? No! Because we may be the only ones willing to share the truth that could save them from making a life-altering mistake. When the Holy Spirit guides us to share the truth, we should do so with a heart of love, never anger or offense; our words should be covered in prayer and full of God’s Word.