Galatians 4:8-11 says,...
Today's verses are Galatians 4:8-11, which read,
v.8 - However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.
Paul is explaining to his readers that before they came to Christ, they were slaves to something or someone but that something or someone was not God. If our definition of God is "the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being" then there can only be one, otherwise He is not God.
v.9, 10 - But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? You observe days and months and seasons and years.
Paul poses a question to them. "To know God" and "to be known by God" are two different things. You can know God but not be known by God. Many people know God but they are not known or in a relationship with Him. The readers have been introduced to God and have come to His calling by faith.
But...after that they have "turned back again" to the old way of life. They have turned back to gods that by definition are not "the" God. They took up culture again to emphasis what is important according to the world they live in and took their focus off the world they are going to. Something has taken a more prominent role in their lives than God.
True today in the church? Yes. Partial surrender may look like progress but it is not surrender. Surrender, to be known by God, is to affect every area of our lives that those "so called" gods will be seen by us as not actually gods at all anymore.
v.11 - I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
Paul sees people sliding back into their old way of life and also their old way of thinking. Their words and their actions are more identified with the world rather than identified with God and His word. Paul is stepping in to rebuke them. To rebuke is to bring to a standard. They are under the standard of what it means to be known by God by their words and their actions. Paul fears for them but he will not just fear for them, he is going to instruct them. Paul is going to speak up instead of watching this happen to those he loves. I fear we do not do this enough.
"Lord, the world is ever creeping in, even in the life of the believer. It is trying to reestablish its place in my life. I have stumbled at times and raised up things that are not gods because there is only one God and that is You. I pray for continued help from the body of Christ to keep my eyes on You and also to be used by You to hold You up in front of the eyes of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.8 - However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.
Paul is explaining to his readers that before they came to Christ, they were slaves to something or someone but that something or someone was not God. If our definition of God is "the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being" then there can only be one, otherwise He is not God.
v.9, 10 - But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? You observe days and months and seasons and years.
Paul poses a question to them. "To know God" and "to be known by God" are two different things. You can know God but not be known by God. Many people know God but they are not known or in a relationship with Him. The readers have been introduced to God and have come to His calling by faith.
But...after that they have "turned back again" to the old way of life. They have turned back to gods that by definition are not "the" God. They took up culture again to emphasis what is important according to the world they live in and took their focus off the world they are going to. Something has taken a more prominent role in their lives than God.
True today in the church? Yes. Partial surrender may look like progress but it is not surrender. Surrender, to be known by God, is to affect every area of our lives that those "so called" gods will be seen by us as not actually gods at all anymore.
v.11 - I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
Paul sees people sliding back into their old way of life and also their old way of thinking. Their words and their actions are more identified with the world rather than identified with God and His word. Paul is stepping in to rebuke them. To rebuke is to bring to a standard. They are under the standard of what it means to be known by God by their words and their actions. Paul fears for them but he will not just fear for them, he is going to instruct them. Paul is going to speak up instead of watching this happen to those he loves. I fear we do not do this enough.
"Lord, the world is ever creeping in, even in the life of the believer. It is trying to reestablish its place in my life. I have stumbled at times and raised up things that are not gods because there is only one God and that is You. I pray for continued help from the body of Christ to keep my eyes on You and also to be used by You to hold You up in front of the eyes of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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