Galatians 4:12-20 (NIV)
I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. Even 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. What 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. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Those 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. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Paul lets his heart show clearly here. He is worried about the Galatians because they are throwing away the salvation that they received by faith, instead determining to earn salvation for themselves by works of the law. Although most of them would not put it that way, Paul clearly saw that that was exactly what they were doing.
Paul looked back at his time with the Galatians years earlier. He doesn’t specify what the illness was that cause him to stop for a time in the region, because the exact illness was unimportant; the Galatians knew. And they also knew that, despite his illness, Paul brought them the gospel, the very words of life that saved them and transformed them.
Paul knew and understood the zeal of the Judaizers. It was the same zeal that he himself had had as a Pharisee. And he also understood that that brand of zeal could quickly turn toxic, because the focus was on winning the argument rather than on bringing glory to God.
Paul wanted the Galatians to be zealous, but zealous for God and His kingdom, not for rituals or doctrines. And it frustrated Paul that he was so far away and could only communicate these vital truths in writing, by messengers that would not get to their destination for weeks.
Paul understood that God was present in the Galatian Churches. But he also knew that hearts could quickly grow hard so that God’s “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-13) became indiscernible to those who were wandering from the truth. Paul was a megaphone for the truth who had the power to break down spiritual strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4), and he longed to be with the Galatians in the flesh, so that he could speak these truths clearly and boldly (and even loudly!) in order to help them through those challenging times.
Father, it is vital for us to realize that, even though Your truth is not fragile, it can be overlooked and even ignored by those who profess faith if we let sin into our lives, or if we let our first love grow cold or if we turn aside from Your path. Oh, how we need Your truth and power to be front and center in our lives during these troublesome days! Help us, Lord, to keep our ears open by constantly obeying Your voice. Help us to keep our spiritual eyesight sharp by watching our steps and gauging them by Your word. And help us to keep our hearts soft and responsive by allowing Your Spirit free rein in our lives, always working, always learning, always obeying, so that we stay firmly in step with You. Amen.