Twin Peaks

The scripture for today is Galatians 5:9

Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

In the context of the apostle's instructions to the Galatians, leaven was the false teaching that was being introduced to the church by the adherents to the law of Moses. Some of the Christian Jews felt very strongly that in order for the Gentiles to be saved they had to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. Paul had to deal with this problem on more than one occasion. The first believers in Christ were Jews and the early church was almost entirely Jewish before the gospel was sent to the Gentiles. These Jewish Christians, while they believed in Christ, also lived as Jews and kept the law of Moses. The dear Jewish believers felt that they had an exclusive connection to God through their heritage, culture, and law. When the Gentiles received the gospel and God poured out His Holy Spirit upon them there was a tremendous influx of Gentile believers into the church through the ministry of the missionaries that responded to the great commission of Christ to "go into all the world." These Gentiles had no history of Judaism nor were they raised within the culture of Jewish traditions. Some of the Jewish believers felt that if God had accepted the Gentiles into His church, the Gentiles were obligated to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses. In essence, they felt that in order for the Gentiles to be a part of God's church they had to become Jewish. It is that leaven of legalism that Paul is warning of in our text today.  

Some contend that the apostle Paul, in His instructions to the Galatians, threw out the Ten Commandments. Nothing could be further from the truth. It was circumcision and the ceremonial law that he addressed. It is termed leaven and Paul knew that a little false teaching would spread and corrupt the entire church. He was cleaning the church of the unwanted leaven of deception.

In the same way that a little misapplication of the Word of God causes widespread problems in the church, the misapplication of the Word in our individual lives will lead us into spiritual pollution. It is not always the big things that cause us to venture off course. Solomon said "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines:" Song of Solomon 2:15 As we continue our walk with the Lord, it is important for each of us be aware of the strategies of the evil one. He quotes scripture also, but he does it not to draw us closer to Christ; he twists the Word of God to distract us from the truth. We must remain prayerful, diligent and humble in our hearts; always attentive to the voice of the Good Shepherd. His voice is the voice of faith and love and will always direct us along the path of righteousness; His righteousness, not ours.

God bless you as you continue in His service.

Tim