What Hindered You?

7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. (Galatians 5:7-10)

This block of verses resonates with me right now.  I feel like I’ve been a little hindered in my gospel run because of internal negative self-talk in my head.  I like that Paul points out this persuasion doesn’t come from the Lord.  It helps to have that discernment.  Satan is the one who tries to create obstacles for us, and a little corruption, like leaven, affects our whole spiritual life.

Also notice the words used for the problem – hinder, persuasion, troubleth.  Sometimes it is obstacles, sometimes it is persuasions from Satan, sometimes it is just troubles.  And trouble could be circumstances, or it could be persecution.

I also like that Paul points out that “he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.”  That means that the people who try to hinder, persuade away, or trouble us to keep us from enduring faithfully to the end will someday stand before God in judgment and be held accountable for those actions.  Yes, there is opposition in all things, but there is no call for anyone else to be someone’s opposition to doing good.

But what about those of us who struggle against ourselves?  Paul says, “I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded.”  He is assured that our thoughts are all towards choosing the right and being true.   Having good desires is very important.  (I suppose that means if my thoughts are not that way, then that is an indication there are internal yearnings toward sinning, and that means I’d need to repent and seek to be born again.)