“But I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.” (Galatians 4:20)

Everyone in a position of authority or leadership has experienced times when they had to “change their tone” like Paul indicates here. Christian leadership is not only about sharing sweet, loving words all time; sometimes it involves rebuke and warning. Paul had to do that with the Galatians in this book. They were going down a path of heresy, denying justification by grace through faith. It was time for him to “change his tone.”  Even God Himself “changes His tone” towards us in scripture, when He needs to rebuke or warn. Each of us will have times when we need to do the same thing.

When those times come, and someone you care about, or are responsible for, is taking a wrong direction, it is NOT a sign of godliness to refrain from “changing your tone.” This applies to pastors, teachers, parents, disciplers, friends, and others. If you really care for someone, and you see them going in the wrong direction, then it may be time for you to “change your tone”!