Paul knows there are teachers teaching the Galatian churches. He refers a lot to the Old Testament. It was his Bible, the Spirit was using him and others to write the New Testament. This letter would be passed around Galatia and teachers would teach from it. The ‘Bible’ and the teaching from it was being passed on. And it continues today!
Following on from verse 5 where Paul calls for those walking with the Spirit to carry out their duties. Our ‘load’ is not a burden for someone else to help carry. It is our lot, our life, our situation of which our focus is on walking our life to the best of our own ability. However, those who teach are highlighted and so are those who listen to their teaching.
“Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.” (Galatians 6 v 6)
Why do Churches focus on the teaching of the Bible? It is because it always has been. It is the right thing to do as demonstrated by the importance of the Bible not only in Paul but also in the life of Jesus.
Remember how Jesus in the most excruciating unbelievable traumatic of times, hanging on the cross, quoted these words: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?”
Why did Jesus say what he said? It is because as he went through hell the power of the Word of God held him. Just as he had done on many occasions where he would quote one verse from an Old Testament passage and the lesson wasn’t in what he quoted but the rest of the passage that he had been silent on. He endured because of the Scriptures.
What was Jesus saying? Maybe this: ““Though I feel abandoned and am going through hell, I still trust Him. And I know later in this Psalm that I am quoting, a Psalm that speaks of me, that vindication will come after the suffering.” God’s written Word is at the centre of the cross. It was instructing Jesus in his hour of need. Psalm 22, the Messianic Psalm, was in the mind of Christ. He was being held together by the Word.
Every week people gather in churches with all kinds of burdens and the instructor who diligently carries out their ‘load’ is used by the Spirit to lift off those burdens and minister life. It truly is an amazing thing to see when God uses this medium powerfully. Those who come with notebook and pen or whatever device is used to take home what God has spoken to them about through the teaching are more likely to be changed by God’s Word than those who don’t.
This is an interesting verse and worth pausing and thinking of our instructors. If we are teachers likewise, this is quite a ‘load’ which we need to give ourselves to.
There is obviously an instruction for those who receive from their instructor and we need to ponder that tomorrow.
Missions Paul 