Furious Chapter 22 Devotional

Love Bombing

Some passages in Scripture are straightforward. Others—like Galatians 4:17–18—require us to slow down and listen carefully.

In verse 17, Paul exposes the false teachers (the Judaizers) for what they really are: manipulators. They had been courting the Galatians—not out of love, but out of ambition. “They are zealous to win you over, but for no good.” The Greek word for “zealous” here is zēloō—a word often used in romantic or competitive contexts, when someone is trying to woo someone. It can mean to desire earnestly, to pursue with passion, like a man courting a woman. But Paul sees through the charm. He’s trying to show the Galatians that they’re being emotionally manipulated, not pursued with love.

“They want to alienate you from us,” Paul says, “so that you may have zeal for them.” In other words, they’re trying to cut you off from the people who actually care about you. Why? Because they don’t really love you. They just want to use you. And Paul is like a protective dad who sees right through that guy trying way too hard to impress his daughter.

Then comes the tricky part—verse 18: “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always—not just when I am with you.”

He’s not against passion or pursuit. But there’s a difference between real spiritual zeal and weaponized attention. It’s one thing to love people consistently, with Christ at the center. It’s another to turn on the charm when someone is watching, only to pull strings and isolate people when the spotlight fades.

It’s like a possessive boyfriend who pours on affection while pursuing a girl—but once he “has her,” he starts withholding it. Why? Because it turns out the affection wasn’t real love. It was bait.

This is a pattern psychologists now recognize as “love bombing”—an emotional manipulation tactic where someone floods you with flattery and attention to win control, only to withdraw or dominate once they’ve secured your loyalty.

And that’s exactly what Paul is exposing.

But his own love? Steady. Sacrificial. Christ-centered. It wasn’t about securing loyalty for himself—it was about seeing Christ formed in them (Gal. 4:19). He had spoken hard truths. He had wept over them. He wanted their freedom, not their fandom.

That’s the kind of love we all need. And it’s the kind of love we’re called to give.

🔥 Reflection

Have you ever been drawn to someone’s spiritual passion without examining their motives? Are there voices in your life that pull you closer to Christ—or just closer to them? Have you confused zeal with love, charisma with character?

🙏 Prayer

Father, give me discernment to recognize the difference between manipulation and truth. Protect me from the influence of those who pursue for selfish gain. Teach me to value the kind of steady, selfless, Christ-centered love that Paul demonstrated. And help me become that kind of person for others. Amen.

📣 Call-to-Action

Take inventory this week of the voices you allow to shape your spiritual life. Are they consistent? Loving? Rooted in truth? Ask the Lord to help you recognize when someone’s zeal is genuine—and when it’s just a strategy. Choose to align yourself with shepherds, not performers.