GALATIANS 4:10

“You meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years.” 

Well, there’s a word you don’t use every day – meticulous. What exactly does it mean. In the English, it means “showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.” That sounds good. My wife can be a very meticulous housekeeper. She wants everything in its place. Honestly, most days I feel like I am living in a magazine cover. I love that about her – her attention to details to make sure our home looks beautiful.

But in Paul’s use of the Greek word translated as meticulous, it is not a very positive thing. In fact, the Greek word Paul uses here is only used five other times. And all those times it is used in a negative context. Four times it is used of the Pharisees watching closely to catch Jesus “abusing” the Sabbath. Once it is used of Paul’s enemies watching the gate to catch Paul. And then here in Galatians Paul says they are trying in vain to keep all these days, months, seasons and years.

APPLICATION

Are you being meticulous about the wrong things? It is a good thing to have your daily Quiet Time. But are you doing it out of habit? Just reading the Bible and praying can become such a routine that you stop getting anything from it. Jesus said this about the Pharisees in Matthew 23:5, “‘And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.’”

He also goes on in that same chapter to speak eight woes against the Pharisees. Take a few minutes and read Matthew 23:13-33. But here is just one of those woes which speaks to the meticulousness. Verses 23-24 read, “‘23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!’”

Don’t be a Pharisee! Don’t be so concerned about the details that you don’t see the fuller picture. God loves you and wants you to enjoy your life in Christ. His Word tells us commandments are not burdensome. Live holy but not legalistic. Celebrate who you are in Christ.

Thank You, Lord, for freeing me from the details and allowing me to be free in Jesus.