Morning Devotional January 15, 2018

Galatians 5:9

“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

The Apostle Paul warned the churches of Galatia of false doctrine and false teachers. This small, short verse speaks volumes! Leaven is added to bread dough to make it rise. A type of leaven is yeast. When yeast is added to dough it permeates the whole lump of dough. Not just part of it but the whole lump. Leaven excites the fermentation process. Another words, leaven speeds up the fermentation process. Again, not just part of the lump of dough but the whole limp is permeated by the leaven and the fermentation process.

We often see leaven being interjected into one of the Lord's churches. Paul recorded it several times in his letters. So it is nothing new. But the same warnings we read from Paul to the churches in his day are still good warnings to heed today.

What we would consider a small, insignificant teaching often times turns into full blown false doctrine. When a pastor or teacher strays from the Word of God and follows the teachings of a man or takes God's Word out of context. Most times all it takes is that initial teaching for the leaven to take hold and spoil the whole lump. When the other men of the church refuse to rise up for the truth and try to correct the false teaching, the leaven creeps in and permeates the whole lump and one by one the the doctrines that the church once held dear and stood strong in are greatly weakened of in some cases, completely gone.

Why do we think Paul warned so much about false teachers and false prophets? Why did our Lord encourage and command us to study His Word daily? In the Old Testament He gives us the example of Israel and Judah. Do we think we are better than they? Do we honestly think we can withstand the whiles of the devil and his temptations?

It very simple. If we love the Lord we are commanded to follow His commandments. He tells us, if we love Him His commandments are not grievous. So why do we, as God's people, struggle so with His commandments to follow Him? As His children our greatest desire should be to follow our Heavenly Father and to do all we can to please Him. Only through following Christ is this possible.

O child of God, Pray without ceasing. Follow Christ. When false doctrine is being taught, search the scriptures for the truth. Pray for boldness to speak up for the truth. Then pray without ceasing.

Praise ye the Lord!!!