Distractions in Relationships

Greetings to everyone. Today's topic is distractions. When I say distractions, I'm speaking of relationships that are keeping you from spending time with God. Let's take a quick look at Galatians 5:7-9. These verses (in NIV) reads, "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion doesn't come the one who calls you. A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." That sounds deep huh? Let's break this down.

Verse 7: "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" This verse comes in the past tense tone, meaning this is how it was at first or in the beginning. You were doing well, you were reading your bible, praying and fellowshipping with other believers. In short, you were trying to keep the relationship hot between you and God, but someone got in the way. Someone cut in front of you and blocked your ability to see God. In other words, somebody took your attention off of God and made you lose focus. More importantly, this someone made you live or act in a manner that contradicts the absolute truths of God.

Verse 8: "That kind of persuasion doesn't come the one who calls you." This verse is simply saying that God would never give you "friends" that would keep you from obeying his truths. God hates sin and He wouldn't put you around people that would eat away at your love for Him and cause you to sin against Him. Don't be deceived people.

Verse 9: "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." The best way to explain this is to use another example. Take a dirty sock and place it in a drawer with clean socks and what happens? Does the stinky sock get smothered with a clean aroma? The answer is no. The exact opposite happens. The clean socks get smothered with the stench and funk of the dirty sock. Well, the same thing happens in the spiritual. Sin in one area of your life will eventually spread to all areas of your life, if you don't kill it off.

So in the end, be careful of who you hang around and pray that God will put around people that will push/motivate you to stay close to God. I hope that you make the right decision.