Jump Start # 1044

Galatians 4:19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you

   Paul’s words to the Galatians demonstrate his deep love, concern and goal for them. Paul wanted the best for them. He wasn’t sitting on the sidelines, hoping that they would get their act together, he was immensely involved with them.

Consider three expressions from this verse.

First, Paul refers to the brethren as, “my children.” That term of affection and endearment, shows how Paul felt for them. They were more than the brethren. It was more than the church. It was much more than people. These were his children. In some ways, he felt that way because he first brought the gospel to them and saw their conversions to Christ. He was the one that got things going. But it went beyond that. My children—every parent understands that expression. You’ll fight tooth and nail for your kids. You are their biggest fan, greatest cheerleader and also the won most likely to thump them when they want to be lazy or do wrong. Your children. You love them, support them, defend them, and help them. The things we do for our children. I’ve had to leave the office to run home and then to the school because they forgot a book, or their lunch money, or a permission slip. When they were scared at night, they climbed into bed. In the middle of the night, when they were sick, it was the parent who takes care of them. We washed their clothes, bandaged their knees, kissed their cheeks, and saw them grow up before our eyes. We cheered when they hit the baseball, applauded the loudest when they had a role in the school play, and got misty eyed when they walked across the stage to get their diplomas. Our children. Their pictures hang on our walls and their memories are stored in our hearts. We love our children. This is how Paul felt about the Galatians. Sometimes, often times, this feeling is missing among brethren. There can be a coldness, a competition and distance between them. Fellowship is meaningless because there is no love. Paul loved those Galatian brethren. This feeling led to our next expression.

Second, “with whom I am again in labor.” Labor brings the idea of work. Labor can be your job, cleaning out the garage on a Saturday, or a young mother giving birth. It’s all work. There is pain involved. Paul’s laboring over his children involved spiritual teaching, guidance and instructing. The process of spiritual growth means teaching and teaching God’s word. New folks need to learn the way of Christ. There are always questions that come up. There are situations which can try even the seasoned veteran. Preaching and teaching—that’s what Paul was doing. That is the backbone of a strong church. It’s not get togethers. It’s not eating. It’s the teaching of God’s word that builds churches. And folks, that’s labor in Paul’s words. It is work. The old cliché that preachers only work on Sundays, not only is worn out from use, but it is insulting to every preacher who is doing his best. I was asked recently how many hours a week I work. I have no idea. It starts early on Sunday morning and goes all week until late on Saturday night. My work consumes me all the time. I think about it. I work hard at it. There is no letting up on the accelerator. My wife was advising a young preacher’s wife recently. She said, “He’s married to his work. I’m his second wife.” I felt terrible about that, but she understands how I work. Now, some preachers may be lazy. Shame on them. Some may only work on Sunday and the rest of the week they play around. This is not Paul. He’s laboring. There are classes and people to be taught all the time. That takes preparation, energy and time. There are sermons. There are things to be written. All of these take forethought, preparation, time and energy. Brethren would do well to see what their preacher does in a week. Behind the pulpit on Sunday morning is just a small part, and to me the easiest part of the work. There is so much more. Shame on us for thinking, he’s not doing anything during the week, so call him up when you need a ride to the airport, or you need an extra hand in some project. They wouldn’t call a school teacher, because he’s at work. They wouldn’t call the nurse, because of work. But on a Tuesday afternoon, hey, the preacher isn’t doing anything. Really? He should be. He ought to be laboring hard for the God he loves.

Third, Paul’s goal and purpose in working hard was to get Christ formed in them. What a powerful expression. Christ in you. Christ formed in you. That would certainly make a difference. Image a person’s attitude, if Christ was formed in them. With Christ formed in a person, compassion, forgiveness and grace would be common characteristics. Many of the problems we have within a congregation would go away if Christ was formed in us. What happens is that we get upset with one another. We say things. We imagine things. We get jealous, mad, short tempered. We forget Christ and think about self. Ugliness rises to the surface and then someone gets the wrath from us. Where is Christ in us?

How does Christ get formed in us? Through the labors of teaching, learning, and preaching. That’s the process. So, if I skip out on church, don’t read my Bible much, just hang around the sidelines of spiritual values, it shouldn’t be surprising that Christ isn’t seen in me. Paul was working hard to turn the Galatians.

One final thought, it is possible for Christ to be formed in you. What a wonderful thought that is. Some old cranky guy can actually change and have Christ formed in him. Some uppity person can change and have Christ formed in them. Someone who has addictions, someone who is selfish, someone who is very worldly—they can all change and have Christ formed in them.

Often in Bible classes, the discussion of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit gets discussed front ways, side ways and back ways. We talk about it, analyze it and discuss it, all the while forgetting that Christ ought to be formed in us. Christ in us. He is not housed in a book, a building or a museum. He wants to be formed in our hearts. The indwelling of Christ.

That’s what Paul was working on. He was working hard on that. Bless those godly men who are trying to do the same today. Christ formed in us. Thinking like Christ. Seeing things as Christ would see things. Working like Christ. Loving like Christ. Forgiving like Christ.

That’s the goal. How are you doing with it?

Roger