Today we continue our study in Galatians chapter 3. Last time we looked at chapter 3 verse 2 and 3 and asked the question “are you going it alone?”. Paul had asked the question … now that you are saved and have received the Holy Spirit, are you now going to try to do things in the flesh or your natural self. Why would you try to do things on your own, when God himself lives within you.

Today Paul continues the argument against those that were trying to get the churches to observe certain Jewish rituals in order to be true Christians. He has asked several questions and now he asked another. Let’s read Galatians 3:4

4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

The question is what suffering?

What suffering have these churches suffered. Well we aren’t sure exactly but we do have a few clues. We know that Paul was persecuted many times in this region. We know that in one city he had been stoned and left for dead.

Perhaps the same people who gave Paul a problem are now giving the new Christians a problem. It would be very easy in that day to make someone’s life miserable. Perhaps some were losing their jobs, friends and even family.

Perhaps the suffering refers to how they were treated within the church. The people who were saying they needed to observe certain rituals, might have been giving people problems. Believe this way or your out.

Regardless of the type of suffering, we know that Paul is making a simple point.

Since you trusted Christ and received the Holy Spirit, since you experienced Him, since he helped you thru this persecution and difficult times, are you going to ignore Him and allow the persecution to be in vain.

Empty?

Of no value?

The fact is most of us hate difficult times in our life. We don’t like the storms. We don’t like the valleys. We would rather be on top of the world all the time.

Now think back to the tuff times in life and then remember what the Lord did for you in those times. What he taught you about Him, and what you learned about yourself. Think about the tears of sorrow, and then the tears of joy. Think about the weight of the world being on you and then how the Lord lifted that weight and you could breathe again. Think about those very close moments that you had with the Lord in those very difficult times.

Now ask yourself… Was getting to know the Lord in a real way during those times worth anything to you?

Do you remember in those dark times when the Lord was was so close to you, you felt like you could reach out and touch Him?

That moment, that closeness, that joy might not have been experienced had it not been for the storm.

Now we know we don’t like storms and we don’t want to go thru them, but knowing what you know now… would you rather go alone thru the storm, or with the Lord.

So my question to you is… was the suffering in vain?