13 You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself. 15 What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

REFLECTIONS

Written by Vivian Abdala

When I think about the circumstances or situations I'm currently going through in life, I often wonder if others would even want to know about them. During conversations with friends and family, I sometimes find myself hesitating before I speak.

“Does this person really need to hear this part of my life?”

“Is this too much for them?”

“Am I talking about church too often?”

“Do I sound too intense or overly religious?”

“Am I just too much?”

Paul’s letter to the Galatians reminds me of times when you meet someone who you get along with, you click and become friends. They want to know more about you, they ask questions with eager interest and take you into their inner circle. However, when something switches, perhaps a conversation where your views don’t align, they begin to retreat and stay distant.

That’s how I imagine Paul must have felt. At first, the Galatians welcomed him as though he were an angel of God. They showed deep affection and love to him. Yet now, they're being drawn to other teachings, and Paul finds himself treated like an enemy. In verse 16 he asks, “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” How can someone you would have once torn your eyes out for become someone you no longer want to associate with?

I reflect on this often, especially when I share that I’m a Christian. There are times when people immediately pull away. It’s a hard truth: sharing Jesus can sometimes cost us relationships. Friends I thought would be part of key moments in my life have disappeared simply because of my faith.

These verses may not feel especially comforting at first, but remember what Paul said just a few lines earlier in Galatians 4:7: “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” That reminds me that even when others pull away, God never will. People may distance themselves when they learn about our faith, but isn’t it amazing to know that God will never forsake us? We are His children, and He has made us heirs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vivian is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.