The Blog

Paul’s illness was a sickness that he was enduring while he visited the Galatian churches.

The world is often insensitive to the pain and misery of others. Paul commended the Galatians for not scorning him, even though his condition was a trial to them.

Such caring was what Christ meant when he called us to serve the homeless, hungry, sick, and imprisoned as if they were Jesus himself.

Have we lost our joy? Paul sensed that the Galatians have lost their joy to due to legalism. Legalism can take away our joy because:

(1) it makes people feel guilty rather than loved;

(2) it produces self-hatred rather than humility,

(3) it stresses performance over relationship, and finally

(4) it points out how far short we fall rather that how far we have come because of what Christ did for us.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died for this very reason. He wanted to reassure us that despite what the world thinks or what legalism dictates, none of it will ever take us from the love of God that was clearly shown through Jesus Christ.

Galatians 4:13-15
13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.