The Truth keeps you on Track
Galatians 5:7-12
7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.
11 Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. 12 I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.
This passage of Scripture teaches on the effects of believing or falling for false teaching rather than God’s truth. Of particular note is that the apostle Paul reiterates that he no longer teaches the need for circumcision as required under Jewish law. It would seem this is a sticking point that really agitates the apostle Paul.
I do like how the Scripture refers to life like running a race and I looked at a few translations of this passage in order to understand it better. They each referred to being off track in some way. For example, one said “who cut in on you” while another said “who held you back” in relation to obeying God’s truth. Either way there’s been an obstruction or hindrance to your path. An unnecessary detour perhaps when God has called us to live life in freedom in Christ and no longer under the restrictions of the law. Remaining in God’s word regularly keeps us on track, moving in the right direction so we won’t be swayed or distracted by competing messages in a noisy world. I am reminded of the importance of being in God’s word continually. It helps us move freely and in God’s purposes for our life.
Dear Lord, thank you for your word which is the truth. Please help me to understand and obey it. Amen.
Written by Ps. Ainslie Woods