“My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭

Two kinds of people will understand this verse. Mothers, and anyone who has helped another soul walk into Christ. More specifically, only one kind of person will understand what Paul says, and that’s the latter person.

We would all love it if our casual prayers and casual meetings and casual Christian effort would produce the mature bride in those we love and are near. But Paul describes in vivid imagery what is required for a human to become rooted in Christ and receive transforming power. This effort by a mature one is described as the pangs of childbirth by Paul, and it means there is no short cut or casual prayer and discussion which produces that which pleases God in a human.

Let’s apply this two ways. Firstly, if casual describes all of our pray times and all of our relationships then simply put Christ is not being formed any where around us.

Secondly, if we have difficult relationships or people edging toward apostasy and we feel a divine angst within us that they not give over to lies, then we are living the pangs of formation. Give over to the pangs! Go into them! Press deeply into Christ for the sake of another soul and do not let up the prayers or discussions until Christ be formed in them! As Paul describes it to the Corinthians, these ones will be in your crown. Or another way to say it, God assigned them to you and you were a faithful steward.

Whether the other person goes with Christ or like the Galatians, ignores the loving effort, our responsibility is to give the life of Christ the best chance to form in the people around us. This is our journey of learning how to live the life of Christ ourselves and what it is like to breathe with Jesus, how long must I strive with the souls of men? The answer is, until sufficient is the measure of Christ in a people on the earth. This is our eternal work, finish line, and reward.