…. In fact it is essential.
Yesterday I wrote of how I thought Paul was saying he had become like them in their legalist approach to their relationship with God. He called them to be free from that way of life like he was.
This morning I haven’t moved from this verse:
“I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.” (Galatians 4 v 12)
Just as the Son of God came and dwelt amongst the Jewish nation incarnating Himself into their culture. So Paul on looking back to his ministry amongst the Galatian churches remembers how he copied Christ. The incarnation was key for him. He was amongst the people. He ate with them, lived with them, walked amongst them. Without compromising the gospel and the life of the Spirit ‘he became like you’.
The world around you is longing for someone to step into their world, to walk their path, to understand and care for them.
How will we ever reach people if we don’t become like them?
- It is not only about you. You need to step way from your world to enter someone else’s.
- Never think someone else’s difficulty is beyond ever reaching you.
- It is not sympathy that is needed but it is empathy, there is a difference. Pity is being thankful we are not in the same position. But those suffering need to know someone understands.
- When we step into the shoes of the sufferer then we begin to truly understand incarnation and as such we come closer to Jesus.
- To remember someone suffering is to act on that memory; you should visit and if you can then provide and above it all pray for them.
- Do unto others what you would want them to do to you. Someone very important said similar words to that!
Missions Paul 