“Become like — ME?!”

I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. ¹³ As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. ¹⁴ Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. ¹⁵ What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. ¹⁸ It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. ¹⁹ My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, ²⁰ how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! Galatians 4:12-20

Anyone in ministry knows the joys come with great sorrows and struggles.  I picture Paul screaming internally as he speaks these words to the Galatians?  What happened? he wants to know.  I preached the gospel to you, you were so warm and welcoming and self-sacrificial.  Now your hearts are joyless and your mouths speak words of contempt.  Anyone in ministry knows these days come, when those who once loved us turn against us.  Paul isn’t so worried about the Galatians turning against him; his concern is that they are turning against Christ.  And he calls them to do a most astounding thing:  “Become like me.”  That’s a pretty bold statement, one we should only ever utter if we are sure “like me” means one pursuing Christ.

As ambassadors, all of us are in ministry, whether formal or informal.  Read what Tim Keller comments about this portion of Galatians and then take a good look at where you are in ministry.  Are they opposers?  What is your heart for them?  Are you in a place that you would feel comfortable telling people to “become like YOU?” Bring all of your sorrows and struggles to the One we must become like if we are going to live as his ambassadors.  Thank him that he forgives you for all the ways you are unlike him, and step into the difficult reality that he sends you as you are.

“In a healthy ministry, your own life is so consistent and your heart so satisfied with Jesus Christ that you can genuinely long for others to have what you have. And if you are truly living in community with people (see the first “difference,” above), then people will see your motives and your joy, and will be attracted by it. If you are enslaved to idols through works-righteousness, you will demand that people live just like you, but out of a desire to justify yourself and deal with your own anxiety and need to believe you are “all right.” But if you are free from idols and self-righteousness, you will simply want others to share your freedom. Your efforts at ministry will be warm and personaland self-revealing (“become like me!”) not condemning and harsh and impersonal.”