Galatians 4:1-31.
Galatians 4:1-31 (GNT)
1 "But now to continue—the son who will receive his father's property
is treated just like a slave while he is young, even though he really
owns everything. 2 While he is young, there are men who take care of
him and manage his affairs until the time set by his father. 3 In the
same way, we too were slaves of the ruling spirits of the universe
before we reached spiritual maturity. 4 But when the right time
finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human
mother and lived under the Jewish Law, 5 to redeem those who were
under the Law, so that we might become God's children. 6 To show that
you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
the Spirit who cries out, "Father, my Father." 7 So then, you are no
longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give
you all that he has for his children. 8 In the past you did not know
God, and so you were slaves of beings who are not gods. 9 But now that
you know God—or, I should say, now that God knows you—how is it that
you want to turn back to those weak and pitiful ruling spirits? Why do
you want to become their slaves all over again? 10 You pay special
attention to certain days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am worried
about you! Can it be that all my work for you has been for nothing? 12
I beg you, my friends, be like me. After all, I am like you. You have
not done me any wrong. 13 You remember why I preached the gospel to
you the first time; it was because I was sick. 14 But even though my
physical condition was a great trial to you, you did not despise or
reject me. Instead, you received me as you would an angel from heaven;
you received me as you would Christ Jesus. 15 You were so happy! What
has happened? I myself can say that you would have taken out your own
eyes, if you could, and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your
enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those other people show a deep
interest in you, but their intentions are not good. All they want is
to separate you from me, so that you will have the same interest in
them as they have in you. 18 Now, it is good to have such a deep
interest if the purpose is good—this is true always, and not merely
when I am with you. 19 My dear children! Once again, just like a
mother in childbirth, I feel the same kind of pain for you until
Christ's nature is formed in you. 20 How I wish I were with you now,
so that I could take a different attitude toward you. I am so worried
about you! 21 Let me ask those of you who want to be subject to the
Law: do you not hear what the Law says? 22 It says that Abraham had
two sons, one by a slave woman, the other by a free woman. 23 His son
by the slave woman was born in the usual way, but his son by the free
woman was born as a result of God's promise. 24 These things can be
understood as a figure: the two women represent two covenants. The one
whose children are born in slavery is Hagar, and she represents the
covenant made at Mount Sinai. 25 Hagar, who stands for Mount Sinai in
Arabia, is a figure of the present city of Jerusalem, in slavery with
all its people. 26 But the heavenly Jerusalem is free, and she is our
mother. 27 For the scripture says, "Be happy, you childless woman!
Shout and cry with joy, you who never felt the pains of childbirth!
For the woman who was deserted will have more children than the woman
whose husband never left her." 28 Now, you, my friends, are God's
children as a result of his promise, just as Isaac was. 29 At that
time the son who was born in the usual way persecuted the one who was
born because of God's Spirit; and it is the same now. 30 But what does
the scripture say? It says, "Send the slave woman and her son away;
for the son of the slave woman will not have a part of the father's
property along with the son of the free woman." 31 So then, my
friends, we are not the children of a slave woman but of a free
woman."
Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days
later you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into
my heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
God bless you.
1 "But now to continue—the son who will receive his father's property
is treated just like a slave while he is young, even though he really
owns everything. 2 While he is young, there are men who take care of
him and manage his affairs until the time set by his father. 3 In the
same way, we too were slaves of the ruling spirits of the universe
before we reached spiritual maturity. 4 But when the right time
finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human
mother and lived under the Jewish Law, 5 to redeem those who were
under the Law, so that we might become God's children. 6 To show that
you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
the Spirit who cries out, "Father, my Father." 7 So then, you are no
longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give
you all that he has for his children. 8 In the past you did not know
God, and so you were slaves of beings who are not gods. 9 But now that
you know God—or, I should say, now that God knows you—how is it that
you want to turn back to those weak and pitiful ruling spirits? Why do
you want to become their slaves all over again? 10 You pay special
attention to certain days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am worried
about you! Can it be that all my work for you has been for nothing? 12
I beg you, my friends, be like me. After all, I am like you. You have
not done me any wrong. 13 You remember why I preached the gospel to
you the first time; it was because I was sick. 14 But even though my
physical condition was a great trial to you, you did not despise or
reject me. Instead, you received me as you would an angel from heaven;
you received me as you would Christ Jesus. 15 You were so happy! What
has happened? I myself can say that you would have taken out your own
eyes, if you could, and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your
enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those other people show a deep
interest in you, but their intentions are not good. All they want is
to separate you from me, so that you will have the same interest in
them as they have in you. 18 Now, it is good to have such a deep
interest if the purpose is good—this is true always, and not merely
when I am with you. 19 My dear children! Once again, just like a
mother in childbirth, I feel the same kind of pain for you until
Christ's nature is formed in you. 20 How I wish I were with you now,
so that I could take a different attitude toward you. I am so worried
about you! 21 Let me ask those of you who want to be subject to the
Law: do you not hear what the Law says? 22 It says that Abraham had
two sons, one by a slave woman, the other by a free woman. 23 His son
by the slave woman was born in the usual way, but his son by the free
woman was born as a result of God's promise. 24 These things can be
understood as a figure: the two women represent two covenants. The one
whose children are born in slavery is Hagar, and she represents the
covenant made at Mount Sinai. 25 Hagar, who stands for Mount Sinai in
Arabia, is a figure of the present city of Jerusalem, in slavery with
all its people. 26 But the heavenly Jerusalem is free, and she is our
mother. 27 For the scripture says, "Be happy, you childless woman!
Shout and cry with joy, you who never felt the pains of childbirth!
For the woman who was deserted will have more children than the woman
whose husband never left her." 28 Now, you, my friends, are God's
children as a result of his promise, just as Isaac was. 29 At that
time the son who was born in the usual way persecuted the one who was
born because of God's Spirit; and it is the same now. 30 But what does
the scripture say? It says, "Send the slave woman and her son away;
for the son of the slave woman will not have a part of the father's
property along with the son of the free woman." 31 So then, my
friends, we are not the children of a slave woman but of a free
woman."
Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days
later you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into
my heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
God bless you.
Comments