New Testament: Gal 4.14–16

To read the Bible in a year, read Galatians 4 on September 26, In the year of our Lord Christ 2022

By Don Ruhl 

When Paul preached in the region of Galatia, the people received him quite well: 

And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 

– Galatians 4.14–15

Look at that first sentence: They received Paul so well, it was as though they were receiving an angel of God, and Paul went further, reminding them of just how strongly and gladly they received him, as though he was Christ Jesus himself. 

Then something happened. He had to write to them after leaving, for they were turning away from what he had delivered to them, but he was not their enemy for what he wrote: 

Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

– Galatians 4.16 

He had enough experiences with preaching to know that people can go from one extreme to the other simply because the preacher told them the truth, even in a loving way. 

I have often said that some people would be glad to die for me, and others would be glad for me to die. 

You have to prepare yourself for all kinds of reactions when you teach people what the Bible says. 

Questions: 

• What do you think about your preacher? 
• What kind of reactions have you received for teaching? 

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Don preaches with the Savage Street Church of Christ in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

Listen to his sermons here: GrantsPassChurchOfChrist.com