Today’s passage: Galatians 4:12-20
Helpful thoughts:
- In this passage, Paul shifts from doctrinal instruction to personal pleading.
- “Become as I am” refers to Paul’s freedom in Christ.
- “I have become as you are” refers to Paul’s efforts to reach many different people for Christ. See 1 Corinthians 9:20-22.
- It seems from this passage that Paul’s sickness (which was likely affecting his vision) brought him to Galatia. The people would have been acting normally in that time to have prevented Paul from being in their presence.
- Their selflessness and kindness to him was in stark contrast to the selfish manipulation that was taking place in the midst of these false teachers. This bewildered Paul.
- The false teachers used flattery to pump up the people for their own personal gain.
- When Paul writes, “I am again in the anguish of childbirth” he is saying, it’s as if you have to be born again…again. No one needs to be born again twice, this is why Paul is perplexed.
Questions to consider:
- What can this passage teach us about the value and the priority of pageantry in ministry? What makes a ministry biblical and honoring to God?
- Why could flattery so easily take us off guard and affect our thinking? When we are tempted to sin by flattery, what is revealed in our hearts?
- How is Paul’s love for this church evidenced in this passage? Thank God for the people who love you in Christ! How can you show this kind of love to other brothers and sisters in Christ?