Until Christ Is Formed In You

Meditations on Galatians

November 11, 2021

Until Christ Is Formed In You

My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

Galatians 4:19 (NRSV)

Read: Galatians 4: 12-20

In this passage, Paul took a break from his detailed theological argument about the life in grace to remember his personal relationship with the Galatian congregations. In Chapter 5, Paul beautifully summarized his life with the Galatians when he first brought them the Good News of Jesus: “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6 NIV). We do not know whether Paul had been suffering from wounds of persecution or a serious illness. We do know that the Galatians received him warmly and showered him with loving hospitality. The power of the Holy Spirit was evident in Paul’s preaching and ministry, and new churches were established throughout the region. It was Paul’s hope that the remembrance of God working so powerfully among them would inspire them to return to the foundation of grace that enabled their freedom in Christ to flourish.

Paul closes this passage with what I believe is one of the most compelling revelations of the life in Christ: “My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,” (Galatians 4:19 NRSV Emphasis mine). This phrase makes it abundantly clear that God is at work within us, transforming us to become like Christ.

I hope this powerful affirmation by Paul elicits two responses in you.

First, with a huge sigh of humility, do you lift your eyes to heaven in awe of your Abba’s remarkably high expectation for you?

Secondly, with another huge sigh of humility, do you lower your eyes and marvel at how much more God must do before Christ is fully formed in you?

My Takeaway: Did you notice that Paul compared his personal ordeal on behalf of the Galatians, as like the pain of childbirth, because God was working through Paul to form Christ in them? Do you see it? God uses the followers of Christ to help other believers grow and mature in Christ. As I write these meditations each day, it is my sincere hope and prayer that God uses them to form Christ in you. You too are an instrument of God’s grace for forming Christ in His children. For whom can you say, “I am in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you?”

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.