...and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Thoughts for Today:Paul continues his rebuke of the Galatians for incorporating the practices of Old Testament law into the Gospel. Observing "months and seasons," is a reference to certain months (corresponding to new moons), and various types of feasts or festivals during the year. For example: Numbers 10:10: "Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God." and Psalm 81:3: "Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival." This would also include, Passover, First Fruits, etc.
Observing years is the Old Testament instruction to keep a Sabbath year as well as the year of Jubilee...
Leviticus 25:2b-5: "When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest."
Leviticus 25:10-12: "Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields."
Paul is making it abundantly clear that observance of these types of "holidays" is not necessary for salvation. In fact, just the opposite might be true. Paul expresses his great concern for them when he says, "I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you." Could their practices be an indication that some of the Galatians were not saved? Perhaps. Paul was obviously worried and did not take this behavior lightly.
Questions to Ponder:What does your behavior and habits reflect? A born-again joyful believer in Jesus Christ or something else? In what ways does your life represent your faith? Is Jesus pleased?