As Paul the apostle
continues his discourse to the Galatian church members, he is
attempting to convince them there is no need to return to following
the law of Moses because Jesus Christ has fulfilled that law. The
Judaizers, who were false teachers among them, filled their minds
with ideas that they should return to the ritual of physical
circumcision and following the law to be saved. Paul asks them a
great question in chapter five and verse seven where he wrote:
You did run well; who
did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?
Paul
begins, “You did run well;” which means they used to be on
the right tract. There was a time when they were enjoying their
salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and they knew that this
grace was enough to keep them growing in their walk with God. They
professed Jesus Christ, and they lived according to their profession.
As those who run in a race, they were forging ahead, continuing to
take steps, and not letting anything impede their way. However, Paul
noted that there was a difference in their running now.
Paul
continued, “who did hinder you that you should not obey the
truth?” In other words, you were running so well, who got you
off tract? There are many in the Christian walk who start off well
just as those in a timed run. They look good at the start, and their
efforts look the same as everyone else running in the race. However,
as time goes by they divert to another path or they tire in the race.
Some even stop running, and perhaps there are outside impediments
that become obstacles to running. Which ever the case, Paul
rhetorically desires to know who diverted them from obeying the
truth.
We noted
earlier in our study how the truth seems to enter on a snails back
while falsehood swoops in like an eagle. For some believers, when
they first accept Jesus as their Savior, everything is wonderful and
they begin their race. Then time marches on. The things of God are
altered, unattended, excused and removed from their lives. Now those
who were once so diligent are hardly ever seen again. Those who were
once “on fire” for the Lord Jesus are now barely a “smoking
flax.” Who hindered them? Who or what diverted them from running
their race in a manner that is in keeping with God's ways? Who, in
fact, hindered them that they should not obey the truth? What weights
of the world have attached themselves to them so they cannot run as
they once did?
Perhaps
in light of this scripture we too should examine our running to
determine if we have been hindered in any way. Maybe we have tired or
it could be that someone has introduced falsehood into our path.
Whichever the case, let us allow Paul's question to the Galatians
“who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?”
to stimulate our own running, and may we continue forging ahead with
all our might in our run with God.
Next
time Paul addresses the source of the Galatians misinformation, so
read ahead, and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally
at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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