There are some huge promises in this chapter of Galatians. One of the most earth-shattering is this: God wants Jesus to 'be formed in you'. That means that all the parts of you you're unhappy with, all the parts that frustrate and vex you, God has a plan to replace them with something astounding. He plans to replace them with His own personality: His choices, His dreams, His thoughts, His habits. Rather than focusing on how to beat sin, you can focus on that process of 'forming Christ'. And as you do it, you'll find it becomes harder and harder to live in sin. Because when 'you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless [ways]…?' (Galatians 4:9 ESV). How is Jesus formed in you? Well, it starts in the quiet place of relationship with Him. Where God becomes infinitely interesting to you, takes up your focus and your attention, and spending time with Him becomes a delight, not a chore. Then in the rest of your day-to-day life, Jesus begins to be formed. God knows the tests and trials required to produce in you the character of Christ, and He'll do whatever it takes to make it happen.

What now?

This part of Galatians is written as Paul agonises over the friends he's writing to. He says he's going to be concerned for them 'until Christ is formed' in them. Do you have any friends who you think of like that? Who you're deeply caring for, and bringing to God in prayer, 'until Christ is formed' in them? If not – why not?