MONDAY March 8, 2021

Laboring in Prayer

They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
Galatians 4:17-20

Paul spoke to the Galatians about Judaizers, those who had come into the church as if to court them. These outside influencers used tactics that wooed and pulled the Galatians away from the Gospel truth. They were heretics who gave the Galatians false doctrine. As a result of this deception, the Galatians had been negatively influence and were swept away. The Galatians followed the lie, rather than the truth.

Judaizers even encouraged the Galatians to turn against Paul. They wanted the Galatians to exclude him from their lives. They probably advised them not to talk with Paul or to have fellowship with him.

Paul had been zealous for the Galatians. He tenderly called the Galatians “My little children.” This was a beautiful term of endearment. It means “My born ones.” Paul referred to the Galatians as those who have been born again of the Holy Spirit. Paul was not lying to the Galatians; he sincerely loved them and had pure motives in telling them the truth.

When Paul said, “I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,” it was a reference to prayer. Paul labored in prayer for the Galatians for a very long time. He would continue to pray until Jesus Christ would be formed in them. In doing so, Paul disclosed his anxious concern for their spiritual welfare. In his tone of voice, he spoke of the Galatians’ growth in Christ, as if to say, “You were developing in Christ. How is it that you have embraced deception from Judaizers and have been swept away?”

How important it is to pray for those who have walked away from God.

Jesus Christ carries on intersession for us in heaven; the Holy Ghost carries on intercession in us on earth; and we the saints have to carry on intercession for all men.
~Oswald Chambers~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!