Childbirth Pains

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you. ~ Galatians 4:19

God and Jesus want a relationship with you; they want to know you intimately, but they do not force this relationship - they wait for your decision.  Paul is trying to get the Christians in Galatia to understand that the teachings that require many laws and traditions to be followed are no longer a requirement - the old law is gone.  He is in anguish for these new believers as a soon to be new mother is in anguish during childbirth.  He can't wait for them to understand that our relationship with Christ is based on what HE has done for us and not on what WE do for Him.  The false teachers want to glorify themselves, but to truly be "born again" is to let Christ grab hold and transform you into a believer who longs for relationship with Him and pulls you out of legalistic duties.  Paul is genuinely concerned for these people as when he was with them they believed, but he has gotten word that while he has been away they have started to revert back to their old ways and so he is hurting for them.  He can only describe his hurt for them as a mother in childbirth - wanting so much to see these new believers grab onto what the Lords has already done for them and grow up in that relationship.  He wants to see Christ in them, to see a new birth in their hearts and souls.  We need to let Christ shine so bright in our lives that our worldly desires are second to wanting what Christ wants.  We need to be "born again" so that we can be refreshing and revitalizing light to a lost world; so our hope is evident and clear to others.  Only faith in Christ can bring about the joy and hope that remains through tough times and the darkest of days.  Christ will transform the old ways of laws and legalism that many hold onto into the new way of hope, restoration and forgiveness. ~ AMEN