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by Sandy Shaw
We come to Galatians Chapter 5 verse 7 – “You were running good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?”
Many start the race fast - they run well for a time - the first year - two years or even longer - and then other influences come along - other demands place a claim upon your life and time and commitment - and these can trip you up as you run for Christ Jesus.
Paul is quite explicit - such people who trip you up and cut in on you - do NOT come from GOD.
Well there is only one other source when it comes to spiritual matters - and that is serious.
They were no longer free to run the race God had called them to run. They were under pressure.
Sometimes we know exactly who cuts in on us, and pushes us out of our lane, and attempts to trip us up.
Cool it - don't get into all that - remember your background - and as you look round at your background somebody cuts in on you and trips you up, and your progress is impeded. You are hindered. You stumble. You may even fall.
Verse 9 - Paul quotes from the teaching of Jesus - only he uses it in a different way.
A little yeast can ruin a fellowship.
A little negative influence can ruin the progress of the people of God.
It doesn't take much - to keep people away from where Jesus wants them to be - a little false teaching - a little gentle persuasion - and someone has cut in on you.
"Stay at home - don't be too committed - be careful you don't become too involved - what are you doing reading the Bible - you don't need to be going there - an hour now and again is enough, if that much." It is all so very subtle. I have heard all this tripping up stuff over these past years.
Is that why Paul becomes so very bold? He has this confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view.
Verse 10 - The one who is doing all this - throwing you into confusion - will pay the penalty - and when that happens it is sad to see. The cutter inner - the tripper upper - has to pay the penalty.
Verse 11 - The enemy had been spreading rumours about Paul, saying that he was preaching something other than what he was actually teaching.
When you hear a rumour - always check - even interrupt the person - ask what their source is - find out what was actually said and when it was said.
Get at the facts - get at the truth - at what actually happened, as opposed to myth, rumour, or legend.
If Paul had been preaching that Gentiles should be circumcised, then why were the Jews persecuting him over this very issue?
But Paul goes further - I am not preaching circumcision - but I will preach castration - those agitators - I wish they would go and cut something else off.
He did not want people to come in spreading legalism, with various religious rules and regulations. I wish people were cut off from spreading bad teaching and reproducing wickedness. It begins with just one little step.
He cautions them - be careful - and then he sounds this pastoral note in verse 13 - serve one another in love. As you do that - you won't go far wrong - there will be no opportunity for someone to come in and cut in on you - you won't be tripped up.
Then you will be FREE, and enjoy FREEDOM.
Serve one another in love - what a phrase - after these challenging paragraphs.
“Loving Father, if I have tripped or stumbled, or fallen, lift me up and place me back in the race. If I have caused anyone else to falter forgive me, and help me to put things right – in Jesus name.” Amen
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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