Travail in Birth

Dear class,

No, I'm not going to talk to you about child-birth today! Although that is what Paul is alluding to in his colourful, impassioned writing.

Today, we read of Psalms 103,104 and Galatians 4.

One of the primary messages of the book of Galatians is the fact that we are no longer under the Old Law, but that of the new Law of Christ. Yes, the Old Law had served it's purpose but it no longer was necessary after having fulfilled it's purpose. (Gal 3:24-27)
Paul's plea to the Christian's in Galatia was for them to wean themselves off! Why get oneself entangled again from that which the Jews failed to keep? Why seek to be in bondage when we have been made free?
As such, Paul felt as if he were a woman in travail. Mothers among us would attest to the great discomfort experienced. At that moment in pain, any mother would hope it would pass as soon as possible! That was what Paul felt when he saw his spiritual children regress into the Old Law.
It is interesting and vital to note that, while we may be tempted to label the Old and New as "plan A" and "plan "B", the fact of the matter is, there has ALWAYS just been ONE plan. If anything, more like part A and part B of an entire complete package our Almighty God had designed right from the very beginning.
Notice in v.21 -  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
The Old Law reveals the New! If one would get to the crux of the Old, he would be looking forward to the New and not hang on to it, as if a mother in labour wished for the the delivery process to go on and on!

From a similar perspective, if we were to hang on to our pre-conversion life-style and thinking, it would be akin to tempting the ones who had taught us and yea God Himself in an extending child birth. GET ON WITH IT brethren! What are we hanging on to? Have we not tasted the graciousness of the Lord? (1Pe 2:3) May we be reminded, he who looks back after putting his hand on the plough is fit for the Kingdom of God. (Luk 9:62)

Let us continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of God and wean ourselves off worldly thoughts and actions, no longer carnally minded, but looking up to things above. (1Co 3:3; Col 3:1,2)

The Lord bless our day ahead.

in Him
Paul


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But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. ~ Luke 14:26,27