Galatians 4:19. my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
So, I’ve personally never been pregnant or given birth. I have, however, had a ringside seat for the pregnancies of my wife and the births of my four children. And, although I don’t know much, I do know a couple of things about pregnancy and childbirth: it is a long, slow process, and it is never easy, but the end result is always miraculous.
So, how is Christ actually formed in us?
First, we must realize that Christ is formed in us only from the inside out. Behavior modifications, spiritual practices, added disciplines, and, of course, law-keeping can never truly change us—not without first trusting in the finished work of Christ in us. Only by consistently seeing ourselves as complete in Christ will we begin to see the formation of Christ in us.
Second, we must trust that the formation of Christ in us is inevitable and unstoppable. Just like a baby in its mother’s womb has all it needs to grow, Christ in you has given you everything you need to grow into His likeness. A pregnant woman can’t “try hard” and make her baby grow inside of her, and you can’t try harder to grow in Christ. But you can trust that Christ is being formed in you. And you can respond in faith to what Jesus is doing in you by His Spirit.
Finally, we must understand that Christ being formed in us is joyful, but it is also a slow and painful process. God is absolutely in no hurry with us. He’s not going to finish the work in you until the last day—not before. Paul was in anguish and in labor over the Galatians precisely because they wanted quick and easy spiritual growth through law-keeping. But there are no shortcuts to Christlikeness. There is no “spiritual experience” that transforms us better or faster than the spiritual experience of Christ in you. The Christ in you is embryonic. A seed. A life that is slowly but surely growing you into a “to live is Christ” reality.
You: What have you been doing to grow spiritually? Has it been inside-out or outside-in growth? Has it been works or faith?
You in Christ: How does knowing that you are in Christ allow you to trust that Christ is being formed in you?
Christ in you: Christ is being formed in you through a slow, even painful process. Can you identify this process in your life?
Pray: Father, the process of spiritual growth in me is all of grace. I want to trust what You are doing in my life by Your grace. Amen.
