Pastor's Pen
Ongoing Labor
Galatians 4:18-19 “It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!.”
As I type, we are currently waiting around for Kristina's labor to begin. She is 39 weeks along, 6 days from the due date. Any minute, hour, or day now, we expect her to begin, and this new child to make it's appearance. Of course, being the 4th child carried to term, we've been down this road before, and have some ideas of what to generally expect. Kristina hasn't exactly been blessed with particularly easy or fast deliveries to date, so when we get started, it will likely be a little while. Yet when the baby comes, it is done! Oh, there may be stories we share, and memories we will have of the experience, but the labor and birth is not repeated!
In the book of Galatians, I think Paul was hoping the trial of birth pains would also be a one and done, but it was not so. After he had led the Galatians to Christ, other false teachers had come in, and got the believers there all turned around. Thus, in chapter 4, Paul equates this struggle he is now engaged in, once again for their lives, to being compared with trying to birth a child a second time! Physically speaking, that would surely be a horrible prospect. Birthing a child twice, like Nicodemus confusedly muttered when discussing salvation with Jesus in John 3, that isn't going to work! But in discipleship, coming to faith in Christ, sometimes we go through this “birthing” process more than once. Really, the process of evangelism and discipleship, of our friends, coworkers, and children, can look a bit like ongoing labor. It doesn't just happen, in a peaceful, and quick, and tranquil way. There is pain, and catching your breathe, and starting over again; all this work, with the goal that Christ would be formed in them!
And it isn't just women that get the monopoly on going through this process. Discipleship, making disciples, is the call of every believer. We each are called follow Paul's example, and be engaged in birthing disciples. Each disciple is a bit different, just like every pregnancy and delivery can be. Some are quicker, and others are long term and exhausting. But the reward, the joy that is held out on the other end is worth holding! When the delivery is complete, and a healthy new child is placed in Mom's arms, all of that work fades away. So to, as you see Christ being formed, and the life of one being transformed, there is great joy and rejoicing. Not just for those involved, but in heaven as well (Luke 15:7).
The kids and hospital bags are all packed and ready to go, as we keep waiting for number 4. Sooner or later, her water will break, or Kristina will say it has begun. But there is other labor, daily labor and discipleship to be done in the mean time. With our other 3, with those God brings into our lives, and the work of sanctification in my own heart. Because it is not just our desire to see Him formed in others, I'm still laboring to see Christ fully formed in me too. Lots of work to be done, but it is for a great reward!
Pastor Lloyd
Galatians 4:18-19 “It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!.”
As I type, we are currently waiting around for Kristina's labor to begin. She is 39 weeks along, 6 days from the due date. Any minute, hour, or day now, we expect her to begin, and this new child to make it's appearance. Of course, being the 4th child carried to term, we've been down this road before, and have some ideas of what to generally expect. Kristina hasn't exactly been blessed with particularly easy or fast deliveries to date, so when we get started, it will likely be a little while. Yet when the baby comes, it is done! Oh, there may be stories we share, and memories we will have of the experience, but the labor and birth is not repeated!
In the book of Galatians, I think Paul was hoping the trial of birth pains would also be a one and done, but it was not so. After he had led the Galatians to Christ, other false teachers had come in, and got the believers there all turned around. Thus, in chapter 4, Paul equates this struggle he is now engaged in, once again for their lives, to being compared with trying to birth a child a second time! Physically speaking, that would surely be a horrible prospect. Birthing a child twice, like Nicodemus confusedly muttered when discussing salvation with Jesus in John 3, that isn't going to work! But in discipleship, coming to faith in Christ, sometimes we go through this “birthing” process more than once. Really, the process of evangelism and discipleship, of our friends, coworkers, and children, can look a bit like ongoing labor. It doesn't just happen, in a peaceful, and quick, and tranquil way. There is pain, and catching your breathe, and starting over again; all this work, with the goal that Christ would be formed in them!
And it isn't just women that get the monopoly on going through this process. Discipleship, making disciples, is the call of every believer. We each are called follow Paul's example, and be engaged in birthing disciples. Each disciple is a bit different, just like every pregnancy and delivery can be. Some are quicker, and others are long term and exhausting. But the reward, the joy that is held out on the other end is worth holding! When the delivery is complete, and a healthy new child is placed in Mom's arms, all of that work fades away. So to, as you see Christ being formed, and the life of one being transformed, there is great joy and rejoicing. Not just for those involved, but in heaven as well (Luke 15:7).
The kids and hospital bags are all packed and ready to go, as we keep waiting for number 4. Sooner or later, her water will break, or Kristina will say it has begun. But there is other labor, daily labor and discipleship to be done in the mean time. With our other 3, with those God brings into our lives, and the work of sanctification in my own heart. Because it is not just our desire to see Him formed in others, I'm still laboring to see Christ fully formed in me too. Lots of work to be done, but it is for a great reward!
Pastor Lloyd
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