Galatians 4:12

Galatians 4:12 says, Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.  Paul asked the Christians at Galatia to be as he was.  I believe that Paul was speaking of his total devotion to doing God's will.  Paul said that he did not feel personally injured by their attitude, but that what he was telling them was still out of an attitude of love for them.  If we feel that those who proclaim to be Christians are trying to change the gospel, we cannot approach them with any attitude except one of love.  Verse thirteen adds, Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.  We still do not know exactly what this infirmity of the flesh was, but Paul said it didn't stop him from preaching nor them from listening.  God will provide the ability for us to do what He calls us to do, even if we have some infirmity.  Verse fourteen continues, And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.  Paul said that whatever this infirmity, which could have been seen as a temptation for him to quit, was not viewed as a reason for those he witnessed to not to accept him.  Paul said they received him as they would an angel from God or even Christ Himself.  Though we can never take the place of Christ and will never be an angel, if we are presenting the truth of God, then we should be accepted as His messengers.  Paul was not saying this to bring glory to himself, but to bring glory to God.  Verse fifteen asks, Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.  Paul asked the Christians at Galatia what had changed the blessedness that they had in the gospel.  They had believed in what Paul was preaching enough that they would have plucked out their eyes and give them to him if it would have helped him, but now they were questioning the gospel that he preached.  If our salvation is not firmly rooted in Christ alone, we may begin by being blessed by the gospel but soon start to question or add to it.  Verse sixteen adds, Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?  Paul had been viewed as an angel, or messenger from God, and he asked if he were now viewed as an enemy because he told them the truth.  Sometimes those who have professed faith in Christ are led astray because they have not really believed in Christ alone.  When someone attempts to correct them, that person is viewed as an enemy.  It is easy to allow things that are not taught by Christ to enter into our beliefs about what the church should be.  Verse seventeen continues, They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.  Those who taught things that were against the gospel, and I believe that Paul was still speaking of the necessity of following Jewish traditions, were zealous, but Paul said that their zeal would exclude the Gentiles from coming to God simply through faith in Christ.  Verse eighteen declares, But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.  Paul said that it was good to be zealous in the gospel at all times, whether he was with them or not.  We may have been led to Christ by a particular person, but our zeal should be for Christ alone.  If we are committed to following the will of Christ, we will not be led astray by what someone else may preach that is not consistent with the gospel.  Verse nineteen adds, My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,  Paul called them little children I believe because they had not matured in faith.  Paul said he was very worried about them.  Verse twenty continues, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.  Paul desired to be with them because he doubted their commitment to the truth of the gospel.  These were people who had professed Christ as their Savior while Paul was there, but now were following the teachings of others who were adding to the requirement of the gospel.  We cannot be guilty of following the teachings of any person for salvation, but only the truth of the gospel.