What Does It Mean to Be a Mature Christian?


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!

 Paul's letter to the Galatians did not mince words.  They were hard words but needed to be said.  What was at stake was the gospel. The first time the Galatians had welcomed him heartily in spite of a illness. I.e. "You treated me like an angel"  Now he asks, "How have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?" 

 Paul recognizes the zeal of the false teachers who have wormed their way into the church. But he also realizes it is the reason the Galatians have soured on him.  However Paul points out that their zeal is missplaced because it is meant to draw them to themselves and not the gospel.  

 Paul closes by sharing vulnerably how much he cares for their well being. We see his heart for them when he says,  "My dear children who I am in the pains of childbirth until Christ be formed in you!" I am not sure how he knew about the pains of childbirth (LOL). Maybe he had witnessed the experience. Paul uses the metaphor of childbirth to describe the Christian life.  He likens new Christians to new babies and their maturity as "becoming like Christ".  

 The Christian life is organic.  When we become a Christian, Christ lives in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Just like maturity as an adult is not necessarily measured by how old one is, the maturity of a Christian is similar.  A good question we might ask ourselves today is, "To what extent is Christ formed in me? Is there evidence in my life for being a Christ follower?" 

 I hope you have someone in your life that cares as much about our relationship with Christ as Paul does for the Galatians!  If not look for someone who will.  

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