Food for Friday
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Galatians 5:9
However, let us look carefully at the context of this verse. Paul is challenging those Galatians who were being dragged back into the bondage of the law. He is dealing with doctrine here, not with immorality, dishonesty, or even animosity among brethern. Paul sees great danger in any swerving aside from the great truths of the Gospel of the grace of God. These truths are foundational. Without them, we would not be saved or even have any interest in the things of God. The truth of the Gospel cannot be diluted, or it becomes worthless and powerless.
So how are we doing in this respect? It has been said that an Assembly is as strong as its weakest members. If that is so, we need to make sure that all of the Assembly is well taught in the truths of the Word of God, that the fundamental principles of the faith are clearly explained, rehearsed, and repeated. We need to make sure that the principles of New Testament gatherings of the Lord’s people are clearly understood by our young people as well as by those who are a little older.
Make no mistake, dear brother and sister, leaven of false doctrine and doubts is creeping into the Assemblies. Many of our young people are on shaky ground, unsure of why we hold to the doctrines that we do. Many are absorbing the wishy-washy attitudes of the denominations about us, and are failing to grasp the need to be absolutely clear on what the Bible teaches and totally committed to its truth. We need to be aware of what is happening, and be in the Book to make sure that we are not led astray or caused to stumble. As individuals and as Assemblies, we need to stand firm for the Word of God.
What leaven have you purged from your life today? What leaven have you prevented from contaminating God’s Assembly? -Jim MacIntosh