Galatians 5:7-12: a reflection

7You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? 8This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9A little yeast grows through the whole lump. 10I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed. 12I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.

Paul writes to the Galatians with concern, because they had begun well but were being drawn off course: You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? They had made a good start, running well in the faith; but someone, some influence, had hindered them, pulling them away from the truth. And Paul warns of how such an influence works: A little yeast grows through the whole lump. A small wrong influence, left unchecked, could spread and corrupt the whole.

Notice two things: the danger of being pulled off course after a good start, and the way a small influence spreads. The Galatians had run well; but a good start is no guarantee of a good finish, and they had been drawn off course by an influence that hindered their obedience to the truth. And Paul warns that such an influence, though small, spreads: a little yeast works through the whole lump. A small wrong influence, tolerated, does not stay small; it spreads and corrupts the whole. The good start had been endangered by a small influence left unchecked.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can be pulled off course after a good start, and by influences that seem small. We can begin well, running well in the faith, and yet be drawn off course by some influence that hinders our obedience to the truth; and such influences, though they seem small, can spread and corrupt, like a little yeast through the whole lump. Do not assume that a good start guarantees a good finish; guard against the influences that would pull you off course, as the Galatians were drawn from the truth. And do not tolerate a small wrong influence as harmless; a little yeast spreads through the whole lump. Watch against the small influences that would draw you off course, for they do not stay small but spread; keep running well, not letting yourself be hindered from obeying the truth, as Paul warned the Galatians, who had run well but were being drawn away by an influence that, though small, could corrupt the whole.

Lord, Paul writes to the Galatians with concern, because they had begun well but were being drawn off course: you were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? They had made a good start; but someone, some influence, had hindered them, pulling them away from the truth. And Paul warns of how such an influence works: a little yeast grows through the whole lump. A small wrong influence, left unchecked, could spread and corrupt the whole. Show me two things: the danger of being pulled off course after a good start, and the way a small influence spreads. The Galatians had run well; but a good start is no guarantee of a good finish, and they had been drawn off course. And Paul warns that such an influence, though small, spreads. A small wrong influence, tolerated, does not stay small. Take that to my heart, for I too can be pulled off course after a good start, and by influences that seem small. I can begin well, running well in the faith, and yet be drawn off course by some influence that hinders my obedience to the truth; and such influences, though they seem small, can spread and corrupt. Keep me from assuming that a good start guarantees a good finish; help me guard against the influences that would pull me off course. And keep me from tolerating a small wrong influence as harmless; a little yeast spreads through the whole lump. Help me watch against the small influences that would draw me off course, Lord, and keep running well, not letting myself be hindered from obeying the truth.