Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.
Read
Acts 15:1-21
15 Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. 3 So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers.[a] 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers,[b] you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. 8 And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; 9 and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. 10 Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
12 The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “My brothers,[c] listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. 15 This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written,
16 ‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen;
from its ruins I will rebuild it,
and I will set it up,
17 so that all other peoples may seek the Lord—
even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called.
Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things 18 known from long ago.’[d]
19 Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled[e] and from blood. 21 For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.”
Reflect
I remember a party I was attending, and the group decided to play a new game that had been released on the market. I am not really a lover of playing games and had not played the game before. I wasn’t sure of the rules but thought I would learn as the game went on. Of course, I ended up being the third one to be a central player. I tried to do what the first two players before me had done, but I ignorantly broke one of the rules. After being ejected from the game, some of the group started chewing me out. I tried to explain I was a newbie and didn’t know. I was embarrassed and that was the last time I attended their get-togethers. I suspect we all have at one time or another been told “You can’t do that because it goes against the rules.” New Christians are particularly susceptible to having that happen to them. I admit, I struggle with being gentle to teach and be an example to those that don’t know better. Paul and Barnabas were appointed to handle the issue before the new Christians. Their action in this scripture gives us a good example to follow in guiding the new members in our family – do it in love.
Pray
Patient Father, I ask forgiveness for those times I have not been the kind of example to others that I should have been. Please make me more tolerant and understanding of those that are new to the faith and help me to be the kind of example they need to grow in their faith.
Go with God!
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