Reading: Acts 13, 14, 15
My Verse: "Now then, why do you try to test God by putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples, such as neither our forefathers nor we [ourselves] were able to endure?" (15:10)
The Jerasulem Council - a first time gathering of Christian leaders convened to work out conflicts as to how new Christian converts, especially Gentiles, should conduct themselves and whether they should be expected to follow the Jewish customs pertaining to circumcision and the Mosaic laws. Peter is pointing out here that neither the forefathers nor they themselves were able to follow all those laws. He then goes on to point out that Jesus Christ basically made all that nil. Jesus freed Christians from rituals and laws. "But we believe that we are saved through the grace (the undeserved favor and mercy) of the Lord Jesus, just as they are." (15:11) Here by "they" he is referring to the Gentile converts. He is pointing out that everyone was now saved by the grace of God. All that is needed is faith in Jesus Christ. We can do nothing toward our own salvation but believe and accept the truth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
It is so unfortunate that even today many churches saddle their members with the yoke of legalism - telling them they need to do this or that in order to be truly saved. When all that is required is to believe and accept Christ. Jesus said. "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me." (John 14:6)
Lord Jesus, help me in this. I too find it so easy to look askance at those that are a bit 'different' from myself. I can so easily get out of my 'comfort zone'. I pray for wisdom, discernment and mostly for the love spoken of in I Corinthians 13. "It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or resentful . . . "
I pray this for myself and for the churches so that we will not be placing a "yoke on the necks of the disciples".
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "Now then, why do you try to test God by putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples, such as neither our forefathers nor we [ourselves] were able to endure?" (15:10)
The Jerasulem Council - a first time gathering of Christian leaders convened to work out conflicts as to how new Christian converts, especially Gentiles, should conduct themselves and whether they should be expected to follow the Jewish customs pertaining to circumcision and the Mosaic laws. Peter is pointing out here that neither the forefathers nor they themselves were able to follow all those laws. He then goes on to point out that Jesus Christ basically made all that nil. Jesus freed Christians from rituals and laws. "But we believe that we are saved through the grace (the undeserved favor and mercy) of the Lord Jesus, just as they are." (15:11) Here by "they" he is referring to the Gentile converts. He is pointing out that everyone was now saved by the grace of God. All that is needed is faith in Jesus Christ. We can do nothing toward our own salvation but believe and accept the truth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
It is so unfortunate that even today many churches saddle their members with the yoke of legalism - telling them they need to do this or that in order to be truly saved. When all that is required is to believe and accept Christ. Jesus said. "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me." (John 14:6)
Lord Jesus, help me in this. I too find it so easy to look askance at those that are a bit 'different' from myself. I can so easily get out of my 'comfort zone'. I pray for wisdom, discernment and mostly for the love spoken of in I Corinthians 13. "It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or resentful . . . "
I pray this for myself and for the churches so that we will not be placing a "yoke on the necks of the disciples".
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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