“You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth”?
Galatians 5:7 NASB1995
The month of March reminds me of a time for victory. The darkness of the morning and night are dissipating as the days are now becoming longer. I love daylight and the sunshine especially in the summertime sitting by the beach watching a glorious sunset later in the evening. Daylight always reminds me of hope with new beginnings and new opportunities.
Paul the Apostle was speaking to the Galatians about their spiritual journey when it came to serving Jesus. Their religion was all about ‘do’s and don’ts. Everything was about the external and outward appearances. They thought they were pleasing God, but the reality is they were pleasing man out of tradition. The kind of tradition that sucks all the joy and happiness right out of you. Their religion was vain, legalistic, and empty with no power within to overcome the obstacles of their faith.
“O you foolish and thoughtless and superficial Galatians, who has bewitched you [that you would act like this], to whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified [in the gospel message]? This is all I want to ask of you: did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying [the requirements of] the Law, or was it the result of hearing [the message of salvation and] with faith [believing it]? Are you so foolish and senseless? Having begun [your new life by faith] with the Spirit, are you now being perfected and reaching spiritual maturity by the flesh [that is, by your own works and efforts to keep the Law]?”
Galatians 3:1-3 AMP
Hindrances in life are inevitable, each of us face them everyday, but they come in different ways and oftentimes subtle. The race of staying sober or clean from alcohol or drugs. How about being honest with yourself and others. The race to grow in grace in following Christ with joy and victory. Are you transparent with God? He knows our every thought!
Serving Jesus Christ is a journey and a marathon at that.
We come to faith in Christ by faith, believing Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and is alive with God the Father in heaven. Then we get caught back up in religious trappings of legal requirements. For example, its not what we eat that defiled a person, but what comes out of a person. Especially, their mouth! Jesus said this.
When somebody’s life changes for the better why would they want to hinder their new life of God’s grace in Christ who offers only hope and joy in a world of darkness (spriritual warfare the battle within. The battle for the heart and mind). Darkness is a real force to be reckoned with and you can overcome by yielding to the Lordship of Christ. This is the gamechanger, because the power of God’s Holy Spirit now lives in you (Romans 6, Galatians 5). When I realized I needed help and deliverance from wrestling with drugs as a teen which almost destroyed my life. I had a wakeup call in in January 1981 that changed my life forever! I was desperately in need for hope and a change in my life no matter what hindrances I would face.
I am indebted to the grace of God and the friends and mentors who helped me through this journey and the battles I faced. Friend if you are struggling find somebody who will agree with you in prayer and fight your battles with you and not against you.
Jesus came so we may have life and have it to the fulness here on earth. He desires we would “walk in the Spirit” of the newness of life to experience joy and victory. Jesus said, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”.
Have a great weekend my friend. May we also continue to pray for the Ukraine 🇺🇦 people for their safety and protection.
The Watering Hole Journey 