Galatians: Reading the Bible for Spiritual TransformationSample

A Case Study for Relational Transformation

Spiritual formation into the person of Jesus Christ follows a predictable path on the journey towards freedom in Christ. Paul's testimony of transformation, as seen in his letter to the Galatians (See Galatians 1:11 - 2:10), highlights the components below that we have explored so far in this reading plan:

• Life apart from Christ
• Encounter with Christ
• Heart transformation through the furnace of solitude
• Go share the Gospel story
• Step into your Kingdom mission and calling

Today, our journey of formation into the person of Christ comes full circle as we look at the sixth and final component: the transformation of our relationships with friends, family, and even our enemies.

In Galatians 2:1-10, the Apostle Paul provides a beautiful case study for relational transformation. From this passage, we see three key elements that we would do well to model in our relationships:

#1 - Paul is led by the Spirit. The text tells us that Paul "went up in response to a revelation." Like Paul, we are also to be people who hear and obey the voice of the Spirit as we navigate the many complexities of our modern relationships. Is there a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor in your life that the Spirit of Jesus has been nudging you to reach out to to seek reconciliation?

#2 - Paul went in private. With the advancement of modern technology, it can be tempting to choose the easy communication path via social media or email to avoid the awkward conflict that comes with difficult conversations. What if, instead, we choose to meet face to face for lunch or coffee to create a space where both people could be genuinely heard? If meeting face to face isn't possible due to proximity, our next best option is to schedule a video or phone call to create the same safe space. Choosing one of these options opens the door for the Spirit to move our hearts toward forgiveness and reconciliation.

#3 - Paul showed great humility. In Galatians 2:2, Paul lays before the leaders of the Church the Gospel message he had been proclaiming among the Gentiles "in order to make sure that [he] was not running in vain." This act of humility shows that it is not about who is right but what is right. For Paul, it was about protecting the integrity of the Gospel message. Like Paul, God is calling us to be the first to move towards forgiveness and reconciliation, humbling ourselves for the sake of the Gospel. One small step of humility is often the spark that broken relationships need to begin to move toward reconciliation.

Through Paul's testimony to the Galatians, we can be confident that spiritual formation into the person of Jesus Christ is possible. This is the path that God has for your life and mine. He is calling us into the regular rhythm of solitude so that our hearts might be transformed by fire. Out of solitude, we are called to go and be light in a dark world. A world that is desperately in need of being reconciled to Christ and the love, joy, and peace that only He can offer.

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