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 no 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 elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?10 You 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, brethren, 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 that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, 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 bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked 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 commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, 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, for I am perplexed about you.
Bond 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 bondwoman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing 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 in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For more numerous are the children of the desolate
Than of the one who has a husband.”
28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say?
“Cast out the bondwoman and her son,
For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.
Walk by 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.