Tim Keller | March 8, 1998
The difference between a sword and a scalpel at first sight doesn’t seem that great. But you can either cut in order to defeat or in order to heal.
The book of Galatians is counseling, and for Paul, truth is a scalpel. He’s not using truth to bludgeon, but to do surgery. And the reason this truth changed other people’s lives was because Paul brought the truth through the mode and channel of true friendship.
We’re told three things in this passage about transforming friendships: 1) a friend has a vision for who God is making you, 2) a friend has a vision for Christ being formed in you, and 3) a friend is willing to go into labor pains for it all.
This Month's Featured Book
Many Christians, and even some pastors, can struggle to share the beauty, hope and joy of the Christian faith in tangible, compelling ways. This book is a guide for anyone who wants to become more effective in sharing their faith, whether it’s in a conversation with a friend or from the pulpit.