8 Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. 9 So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? 10 You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. 11 I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing. 12 Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles--free from those laws. You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you. 13 Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. 14 But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. 16 Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? 17 Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them. 18 If someone is eager to do good things for you, that's all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I'm with you. 19 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. 20 I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don't know how else to help you.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who, or what, were the Gentile converts slaves to before their conversion? (v.8)
2) Though they were known by God, who or what were the Gentile believers turning to? Why? (v.9-10)
3) How did the Apostle Paul feel about their backsliding and what did he plead with them to do? Why? (v.11-12b)
4) What was Paul's physical condition when he first preached the gospel to the Gentile converts and how did they treat him then? (v.12c-14)
5) What did the apostle ask and remind the Gentile believers of when they first received him? (v.15-16)
6) What did the apostle write concerning the false teachers among them and warn them of concerning their behavior? (v.17-18)
7) What other feelings and thoughts did the apostle share with the Gentiles? (v.19-20)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
8) Has your faith in the Lord faltered because of the teachings of those who did not bring you to faith in Christ?
LIFE LESSONS
9) The Lord uses His Holy Spirit, and the counsel of Godly people, to correct us when we are led away from our faith in Him.
10) Any person, or thing, that leads us further away from the truth of God's word is false.
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