April 20, 2024
Pastor Darin Youngberg
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Daily Bread
Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2017 by Bro_D
Daily Bread Sept. 21, 2017
Galatians 4:19-20 My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until the Messiah is formed in you. (20) Indeed, I wish I were with you right now so that I could change the tone of my voice, because I am completely baffled by you!
Gonna be honest….. I laughed out loud when I opened my Bible and read verse 20 – first Words of the day … “I am completely baffled by you”. I thought, “Lord, I baffle myself at times!”
Upon further study of the context ….. Paul was truly upset .. these folks were being deceived .. they were headed down a path that could lead to great turmoil …. Even destruction. I remember when I was struggling with the whole idea of being called into ministry. I went to my pastor, Bro. Bob Warren, we talked about many things --- he never told me about the burden of ministry. I remember going back to him after 3 months of being a pastor --- I said, “How come you never told me about the heavy burden of caring for these people? How come you didn’t describe the anguish, the fear that comes upon me when I see them heading down a dangerous path?” His answer…. “Because then you may not have answered the call.” You know what? He was right.
Watching people live out a life that leads to heartache and possible destruction …. Hardest thing I’ve ever done. It doesn’t get easier with time. Look at Paul’s words in verse 19 – “until Messiah is formed in you.” Seems these folks have some growing in the LORD that needs to take place. That’s true for ALL of us – but evidently there are some that are slacking … they have been distracted by “other things” (Mark 4:19) and therefore, the Word of God does not dwell richly in them – for if it did, they would not have been “bewitched” (Gal. 3:1). The more I read in Galatians this morning, the more I heard Paul’s anger. In chapter 5, he is so upset with those who have led the Galatians down this path that he wishes great harm to them (5:12!). The more I read this letter, the more I can hear Paul screaming at them --- He is one ticked off dude! Not at them, but because of their lack of commitment to the Word--- that led to their current circumstances and threatened their future joy! They were being robbed and were headed for greater trials – that infuriated him. He cared so much for their joy, their peace, their victory in the LORD – and he saw those things being ripped from them.
Mark 4:18-19 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, (19) but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
To hear the Word of God... and yet, the Word gets choked and becomes unfruitful.... I hate watching this happen! I hate watching people pursue a greater career over a greater relationship with Christ. I hate watching people fill their lives with time spent on earthly endeavors rather than filling their lives with Word of God. I hate watching people fill their time experiencing the things of this world rather than experiencing the presence of Jesus. I hate it! I hate it because I know what they are headed for -- heartache, dismay and most likely destruction.