The last few weeks of our Bible study, we have been reading Paul’s exhortation to Galatian believers to not fall back into a man centered religion of outward appearances and works and instead, keep believing in the Gospel of Grace, where our salvation is available only by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone.

This past week, we read in Galatians 4: 12-20 where Paul reminds the Galatians of how he came to them with the Gospel while suffering physical adversity. In Galatians 4: 19, Paul affectionately calls the Galatians his spiritual children. The verse says:

Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.

Paul is saying that his burden and concern to see the Galatians grow in Christ is much like the pains of childbirth that a pregnant mother is willing to suffer for her child. Paul also mentions that his burden and concern will continue until Christ is fully developed in the Galatians lives. What does having Christ fully developed in our lives, or having Christ in us look like?

Pastor Chip Ingram, author of the book “Living on the Edge,” says that Romans Chapter 12 is the key for believers to live a life of true spirituality, a life that is pleasing to God. Romans 12 breaks it down this way:

·         Surrender yourselves completely to God.

·         Don’t conform any longer to the values of the world; let God transform your mind.

·         Conduct sober self-assessment in accordance with the faith God has given you.

·         Be devoted to serving others and honor others above self.

·         Supernaturally respond to evil with good.

Read Romans 12 this week to be reminded of how God wants to transform our lives and how we can have true spirituality.