Today’s Reading | Galatians 4
Wasted?
Think of an individual or two who have invested time and effort in your life to help you grow in your walk with God. As they evaluate your spiritual journey to this point, how do you think they feel about the time and effort they have devoted to your life? Paul, in verse 11 of today’s reading, makes a statement that ought to cause us to think about this very question. He invested a lot of time in the lives of the believers in the church of Galatia. Most of his time was devoted to studying the Word, teaching it carefully and trying to build relationships with them to help them grow spiritually. If they began to fall away and believe the false teachers, he feared his effort would have been in vain. Had the Galatians ignored the truth and lived as though they had never heard it, Paul’s many hours of patient teaching would have been for nothing. It is discouraging to work to ensure that one knows the truth and how to apply it only to see them disregard it by word or deed. It must break the hearts of parents, pastors, and friends who try diligently to help us, only to see the truth rejected. As they examine your life, how do you think they feel about where you are now?
Today’s Questions
Say What?
Name people who have invested time and energy into your life?
So What?
In what ways have they impacted your life?
Now What?
How can you demonstrate to them that their efforts are not in vain?
Then What?
In light of this passage, what personal commitment can you make?