You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Perhaps you know someone you have prayed to receive Christ for years and it seemed like they surrendered to God’s sovereign will and were saved. Then, true to the parable of the sower, the thorns came and choked it out; with leaven. This mixed metaphor explains the sadness of what is happening in the American church today. The chances of a new believer landing in a Bible believing church are dwindling fast due to a vast biblical ignorance among pastors and congregations, as well as a desire to scratch peoples’ itching ears in order to please everyone and fill vast lukewarm churches. Now you know how Paul felt watching his beloved Galatian churches undermined by false teaching after starting so well. The “persuasion” he refers to is the convictions and beliefs taught by the Judaizers. They taught that Christians must be circumcised in order to be saved.That is not from Christ but the minds of men.
So many Christians were running well before the thorns of today’s culture began their stranglehold on them. They have been barraged with guilt and shame at their “intolerance” and “hate”, to the point that they have given in. Entire churches and denominations have fallen over themselves trying to be the first ones to stumble.
Today, let us prevent the thorns of leaven by reading the Bible. This chapter will be a good start to your day as you see how Paul feels about those who hinder us from seeing the truth. Pray for those who are running against the wind of false teaching…
Cheer them on to the finish line today.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church