Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

This apostle’s heart in the Scriptures is being fully displayed for us.  He aches for these believers because he knows the power of deception and senses they are being lured away from New Covenant truth towards the error of relying on the law for righteousness and blessing.

He also expresses the reason for his travail for them.  He has a goal, and it is not aimless travail.  He longs to see Christ formed in them!

But the interesting part is that when we read further in the next verse to follow, we find what he believes will not be a tool for accomplishing this.

Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

If we were to keep reading in Galatians, we would find this apostle reminding these believers that they are children of the promise, not the Law.

His reason is that if Christ is to be formed in them, it must be according to New Covenant reality and truth because Christ is the promise.

Jesus must be at the center of everything for the believer.  This same apostle spoke something similar to another group of believers in Rome.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Hmmmm?  Conformed?  The Greek idea here is to be jointly formed, similar, fashioned like unto.

The idea is similar to that of molding a statue. The clay is worked and shaped until it gives forth the likeness of the one it will be patterned after.  The result is that others looking at it might be able to identify whom it is meant to represent.

The goal for disciples is to be transformed and conformed so that others might see Christ in them, which is the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

When this goal is shared, the path to achieving it is accepted and involves allegiance to the gospel.

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Have you embraced the goal?