“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”
The Few
Paul names genuine, ongoing labor pains here, travail in birth again, a striking image worth taking seriously, discipleship’s actual cost described not as a single, completed transaction, but ongoing, repeated labor, real and difficult, until Christ be formed in you, the actual, genuine goal this labor serves.
This is worth examining against however much your own investment in others has assumed a single, sufficient effort should produce lasting change, rather than this verse’s own honest picture, ongoing, repeated travail, worth holding as realistic expectation rather than discouraged surprise when genuine change requires this same, ongoing labor.
Notice until Christ be formed in you, the actual, specific goal named directly, not merely improved behavior or increased knowledge, but Christ himself genuinely formed, worth holding as the actual, deeper aim your own investment in others is ultimately meant to serve, not lesser, more superficial goals.
Whoever you are currently laboring over, in whatever ongoing, difficult travail this relationship currently requires, receive today Paul’s own honest naming of this cost, and hold onto the actual, deeper goal, Christ formed in them, worth this genuine, repeated labor, not a single, easily completed task.
Pour Into the Few
- Name honestly the ongoing, difficult labor your own current discipling relationship actually requires.
- Hold onto the actual, deeper goal, Christ formed in them, not merely superficial, easier outcomes.
- Continue this labor today, trusting it as genuine, necessary travail, not evidence of failure.
Prayer
Lord, let me travail in birth again for whoever I disciple, until Christ is genuinely formed in them. Let this ongoing labor be trusted, not discouraging, evidence of failure. Amen.
Carry this today
Genuine formation requires ongoing, repeated travail, not a single, sufficient effort.