Galatians – Week 7 – Day 5

READ 

Galatians 4:13-16 

13 Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. 14 But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. 16 Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? 

This is the passage that causes some Bible students to think that Paul had serious eye troubles. They also cite Galatians 6:11 where he concludes his letter by mentioning the large letters he uses in writing his closing. Others think Paul was using a figure of speech regarding how they would have taken their most prized possession and given it to him. With either view, Paul wondered as he was writing his letter to them if he had now become their enemy. The reason: he was telling them the truth. 

REFLECT 

Have you found that some people are not happy with you when you try to tell them the truth? 

RESPOND 

Read Matthew 23 for an example of people becoming angry when confronted with the truth. Here, and all throughout the Gospels, Jesus regularly called out the Pharisees for their hypocrisy—claiming to serve God while really serving themselves. They were so angered that they plotted to kill Jesus.