Read Galatians 4.1-7

Paul, just coming off of chapter
three is still focusing on the relationship of Sons. He has
established that we are all, Jew or Gentile, children of God. But
what does that mean? He tries to explain it too us, but on first
glance of the chapter he seems to make it more confusing. With all the
allegories and inheritance, I know I for one am thrown for a loop.
Here’s the thing though: if we understand history as the plan of God with
Jesus being the fruition of that plan, we can shed some light on this
chapter.

Simply put, the meaning of the first
seven verses is about humanity. Once, we were little children, no
better than slaves, but now, through Jesus, we are made full heirs. Because of
Jesus we have been freed forever from Sin; the plague on humanity since Adam and
Eve.

How is your life different now than when you were a
kid? More freedom? More
responsibility?

What is the feeling like of being free from sin?
Describe it to yourself. This may be very difficult, don’t feel
like you have to be perfect with it. Let grace speak for
itself.

Do you feel like a son or daughter; an heir?
Or do you still feel like a slave?

How does freedom and grace change everything? How does
a religion that is driven by love, mercy, intimacy, compassion, relationship and
oneness completely change the way we few God and ourselves? What does it make of
the oppressive slavery of the world?

What is so hard to believe about the gospel message? I
intellectually assent to it, but something deep within me rebels against the
idea that I am not in control of my salvation. Something within me also doesn't
believe that God truly wants a freely loving relationship with me. I question
his motives, and doubt anyone could feel such a way about me. What do you think
about God? Do you really trust him, and the freedom he has for you? Pray about
this now. Pray that you would fully accept his grace and loving
freedom.

Journaling:

Read Galatians 4.8-11

The church in Galatia has
experienced God, but they have been forgetting that they are free and running
back to slavery. Shortly after the Israelite slaves were set free
and headed for the promised land there was uncertainty; where exactly are we
going? How long is it going to take? Is God really
leading us? There were some signs, the Cloud by day and pillar of
fire by night, but people still wanted to turn back. They would
rather be slaves with certainty than free people without it. They
did not put all their trust in God.

The Galatians are acting like the
Israelites. They have been freed through Jesus, but following
Jesus means uncertainty, it means danger, and it means taking up a cross.
Following Jesus can seem like leaving home and traveling to a place you
have never been. The Galatians are running back to slavery and
certainty and Paul calls them on it.

Have you ever ran back to the safety of your old
life? Your old friends? Your old sins?
Are you doing that right now?

Do you feel uncertain about following Jesus?
Does the life you are called to lead scare you? It’s
alright if it does, but don’t turn back even when it’s
scary.

Has there been a time in your life when you have kept
following Jesus even though you really wanted to turn back? Has
there been a time where you did turn back? Both?
Process through them right now. What can you learn about yourself and God
from your past successes and failures?

Journaling:

Read Galatians 4.12-20

In these verses, Paul takes some
time to reminisce. He remembers the first time he went to
Galatia. What Paul is asking is ‘what happened to you?
You guys were awesome but I have been hearing some bad things about
you.’ The last time Paul was there they listened to him, but he is
worried that by reprimanding them, they will be angry and not listen to anything
he has to say. Paul wants the best for them, they are like his
family.

Have you ever seen someone become a Christian, be
really excited about Jesus, then shortly after stop coming to church?
This isn’t an excuse to insult them, but to feel pain like Paul feels for
those he cares about who are slipping in the faith.

Has it ever been the other way around, with you being
the one leaving your faith behind? Who, if anyone, confronted you
about it?

Do you have people in your life who will, like Paul, be
concerned for your walk with Jesus?

Are you being this person for other people? Is God
presenting you with an opportunity right now to help someone in this way? If so,
Paul is challenging you to step up.

Journaling:

Read Galatians 4.21-27

Paul here starts to get a little
weird and confusing. It can be easy to get lost in the covenants
and mountains and all that jazz he starts throwing out. To
simplify it, he is talking again about sons. Basically he is
saying that true sons are born through Jesus and not through Judaism.
Jews are welcome to be born through Jesus (see John 3) but salvation
comes only through Jesus, not from anywhere else.

Have you ever tried to find satisfaction in anything
other than Jesus? If so, what?

What are some of the implications for our day and age
in saying that Jesus is the only way to God?

Are you comfortable preaching this one way gospel?

How would your life be different if you fully grasped
that other people are not going to attain salvation because they don’t have
Jesus? Would that put into perspective any fears or embarrassment you might have
in bringing up your faith? What would change if you fully believed
it?

Journaling:

Read Galatians 4.28-31

At the time of the early church the
Jews were heavily persecuting the church (read Acts, it is not the Romans who
attack Paul and Peter, but the Jews). Paul draws further on his
allegory to say, just like Ishmael and Hagar persecuted Isaac and Sarah, the
Jews are persecuting the Christians. Paul reminds the Galatians
that this is inevitable and to persevere through it because they are true sons
and daughters.

Physical persecution does not occur very often, if at
all, in America today. What sort of persecutions are faced here
today and how can we overcome them?

Has the lack of physical persecution made the American
church lazy? If so, how?

What are some ways to help the church in the world that
are experiencing physical persecution?

Are you willing to face physical persecution for the
cause of Christ? Don’t freak out if you don’t know. It is one of those questions
that we can’t fully answer until we are in the situation. However, it is still
good to start wrestling through our devotion to God before the particular
struggles arise. Like a single person struggling with purity and selfishness
before they actually get married and fight the problem head-on, are you
preparing yourself now for the persecutions that you might have to face in the
future?