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Never censure indiscriminately; admit and praise that which is good, that you may the more effectually rebuke the evil. Paul did not hesitate to praise the Galatians, and say, "Ye did run well." It is a source of much pleasure to see saints running well. To do this they must run in the right road, straight forward, perseveringly, at the top of their pace, with their eye on Christ, etc. It is a great grief when such are hindered or put off the road. The way is the truth, and the running is obedience; men are hindered when they cease to obey the truth. It may be helpful to try and find out who has hindered us in our race.

1. WE SHALL USE THE TEXT IN REFERENCE TO HINDERED BELIEVERS.

I. You are evidently hindered.

(1)  You are not so loving and zealous as you were.

(2)  You are quitting the old faith for new notions.

(3)  You are losing your first joy and peace.

(4)  You are not now leaving the world and self behind.

(5)  You are not now abiding all the day with your Lord.

2. Who has hindered you?

(1)  Did I do it? Pray, then, for your minister.

(2)  Did your fellow-members do it? You ought to have been proof against them; they could not have intended it. Pray for them.

(3)  Did the world do it? Why so much in it?

(4)  Did the devil do it? Resist him.

(5)  Did you not do it yourself? This is highly probable.

(a)  Did you not overload yourself with worldly care?

(b)  did you not indulge carnal ease?

(c)  Did you not by pride become self-satisfied?

(d)  Did you not neglect prayer, Bible reading, the public means of grace, the Lord's Table, etc.? Mend your ways, and do not hinder your own soul.

(e)  Did not false teachers do it, as in the case of the Galatians? If so, quit them at once, and listen only to the gospel of Christ.

3. You must look to it, and mend your pace.

(1)  Your loss has been already great. You might by this time have been far on upon the road.

(2)  Your natural tendency will be to slacken still more.

(3)  Your danger is great of being overtaken by error and sin.

(4)  Your death would come of ceasing to obey the truth.

(5)  Your wisdom is to cry for help, that you may run aright.

II. WE SHALL USE THE TEXT IN REFERENCE TO DELAYING SINNERS.

1. You have sometimes been set a-running.

(1)  God has blessed His Word to your arousing.

(2)  God has not yet given you up; this is evident.

(3)  God's way of salvation still lies open before you;

2. What has hindered you?

(1)  Self-righteousness and trust in yourself?

(2)  Carelessness, procrastination, and neglect?

(3)  Love of self-indulgence, or the secret practice of pleasurable sins?

(4)  Frivolous, sceptical, or wicked companions?

(5)  Unbelief and mistrust of God's mercy?

3. The worst evils will come of being hindered.

(1)  Those who will not obey truth will become the dupes of lies.

(2)  Truth not obeyed is disobeyed, and so sin is multiplied.

(3)  Truth disregarded becomes an accuser, and its witness secures our condemnation.Conclusion:

1. God have mercy on hinderers. We must rebuke them.

2. God have mercy on the hindered. We would arouse them.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

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

WEB: You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?