Jesustrek

The primary purpose of the letter the apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian churches was to prevent them from making the horrible mistake of turning away from Christ as the sole source of their salvation. Some of the people there were trying to justify themselves before God by keeping the law. Paul says that some of them had already fallen from grace—“You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” (5:4).

Paul anticipated that his words might not be well-received. At one point he asks, “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (4:16).

Sometimes the bearer of truth is perceived to be the enemy. No one likes the politician who says we can’t go on spending money that we don’t have. Children think that their parents are being mean when they tell them that wrong decisions often bring negative consequences. Church members would often rather have their itching ears scratched than to listen to their preacher deliver the truth of God’s Word.

Even if other people think that you are the “bad guy”, keep on speaking the truth, always being careful to deliver it in a gentle, graceful manner. Then, “…speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”—Ephesians 4:15.