Lesson 4868

 (Lesson 4868) (05-29-25) Galatians 4:12-20 

   “Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice for I stand in doubt of you.” 

 

 

   In today’s quote, Paul appealed to the Galatians to be as he was—free from the law. He reminded them of their initial love and kindness toward him despite his physical infirmity when he first preached the gospel to them. They had once received him as an angel of God, even as Christ Himself. Paul demanded to know what had changed among them, wondering if he had become their enemy by telling them the truth. He warned them that false teachers were zealously courting them, but not for good but rather for evil. He expressed deep concern, likening his anguish to labor pains, longing for Christ to be fully formed in them. His tone with the Galatians reflected both love and frustration. ~