Until Christ is Formed in You

Scripture – Galatians 4:17-20: ¹⁷Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. ¹⁸It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. ¹⁹My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, ²⁰how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Reflection: – Mixed motives! That’s an issue for us all. Rarely do I do the right things from totally pure motives.

As Paul writes here, “it is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good.” So what’s important to begin with is that I choose to work for a good purpose. For example, if I’m raising money for a church project or other charity, even if it turns into a competition where I’m trying to come out ahead of other people, it’s still in the context of a good purpose.

That then frees me to pursue the deeper goal: that Christ is formed in me. I let His presence in me grow and fill me and transform me. The goal is that one day my will becomes totally caught up in His will. At this point, I experience flashes of that. There are short bursts where I am one with Christ in motive and action. Those are powerful times. I’ve got a long way yet to go. Maybe I’ll never get there this side of heaven. But that doesn’t keep me from moving forward.

What motivates you when you are doing good? How is Christ being formed in you today?

A Hard Reality

Scripture – Galatians 4:8-11: ⁸Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. ⁹But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? ¹⁰You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

Reflection: – One of the hard realities to accept is that there are spiritual powers stronger than me. The only power I have is to choose who my master will be. As much as my human nature resists that, it is a fact.

Christ is the one who loves me. He’s the one who sets me free to become the person He’s created me to be. As I let Him be lord – the guiding force and director of my life – I will live a life of fullness and joy. Every day is a new gift, a new adventure. And I expect to find His help and experience His power along the way.

One of Satan’s most effective schemes against us in to instill the idea that we are self-sufficient – that I am in control of my life. Yet the simple fact is I am not. There are powers of darkness far stronger than my will – powers which will master and enslave me. The worst part of it is, I won’t even recognize that.

What concerns influence your behavior? Who is the master of your life? Ultimately, where are you headed?

Reading for Sunday, May 18:

Scripture – Galatians 4:12-16: ¹²I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. ¹³As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. ¹⁴Even 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. ¹⁵What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

A Very Personal Connection

Scripture – Galatians 4:6-7: ⁶Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Reflection: – One of the unique aspects of the Christian faith is the personal relationship each person can have with God. The word “Abba” has been translated many different ways. The key, thought, is it conveys a very personal relationship with the Father – a relationship that is intimate and unique for each of us.

Through faith in Jesus Christ I have this intimate connection. The great Creator of the universe also knows me and interacts with me. God is interested in the smallest details of my life. That’s a bit mind-boggling. And it’s a Biblical truth I sometimes find hard to accept.

How about you? How would you describe your relationship with God? What do you do to nurture that relationship?