September 10, 2025 | Be God's Family
Following Godly Examples
Scripture: Galatians 4:12-20(NIV)
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and 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. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 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 have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Devotional
I can remember my parents scolding me as a child for picking on my little brother. I had many teachers who frequently had to remind me that talking to others in class during listening time was not acceptable. In my working career, I’ve had bosses and clients advise me to make another attempt to successfully finish a project I had been completing on their behalf.
As a parent, I’ve provided the same correction to my children. As a teacher, I’ve made the same appeal to my students. As a boss and client, I’ve implored the same “do it again but better” suggestion to those in my charge. People say all the time that they are open to constructive criticism, myself included, but when it gets down to it, it doesn’t matter if one is three or fifty-three, no one likes being told “you messed up.”
Paul is struggling with some of the same emotional issues when providing correction in this passage. When he last visited the Galatians, they were eager new Christians, full of fire and energy for Jesus. Now, many have been convinced to return to following the law in addition to following Jesus. He implores them in verse 12 to “become like me.” He is saying that he, Paul, used to live under the law but now lives with faith in Christ as his means for salvation. He knows that many of the Galatian Judaizers are angry with him for calling them out on their turning away from Christ as the sole means of salvation but is perplexed by their anger with him for calling them out over it. They may say they like constructive criticism, but deep down, they, like most of us, struggle with it. Paul presses on because he has the truth on his side.
How well do you accept constructive criticism? When a believer calls you out for falling short, are you willing to listen without anger? How often are you tempted to do good works to “erase” your sins rather than counting on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross?
Poem
Once I Have Tasted
Psalm 119: 153-160
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Psalm 119:160
Once I have tasted the delights of Your table
The richness of steak
The bread of truth
The wine of joy
Do not allow me to return to old vomit
Like a dog
