Monday, September 7th
Galatians 2:11-14
BIBLE PASSAGE - CLICK HERE
The scene: the exciting arrival of Jewish Christians from the Jerusalem Church. The result: Peter’s withdrawing from eating with the Galatian (non-Jewish) Christians. This was a perfect example of when practice doesn’t match preaching. Please don’t hurry to judge Peter. Peer pressure, our weaknesses (remember Peter under pressure denying knowing Jesus?) and circumstances can cause even the best to lapse. The consequences: the relatively younger-in-the-faith Paul feeling betrayed by his friend and mentor Barnabas, who joined Peter. His own understanding of the Good News of Jesus must have been shaken by what a stalwart like Peter did. And what about how the Galatian Christians felt? But Paul, now a zealous Christ-follower, saw clearly through the hypocrisy: “…they weren’t acting consistently with the truth of the gospel” (v.14). He did the courageous thing and confronted someone of known spiritual stature like Peter.
Can love and truth be the basis of standing up for the right thing as well as those who are marginalized (see Ephesians 4:15)? What can we do to surround ourselves with people who encourage us to live what we say we believe?
Prayer: Lord, please help me to understand the real “truth of the gospel” and act consistently with that truth. I know that is not always easy: I catch myself not doing what I say I believe because it is not convenient at the moment, or the peer pressure is too strong, or my own past weaknesses make me stumble. But I know that same undeserved love that saved me, healed my relationship with you, is the same grace that will give me the courage to be the Christ-follower you’ve called me to be…if only I depend on the Holy Spirit you have given me! O Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me…Amen.
Song: Spirit of the Living God (Voices of Praise)
SONG - CLICK HERE
BIBLE PASSAGE - CLICK HERE
The scene: the exciting arrival of Jewish Christians from the Jerusalem Church. The result: Peter’s withdrawing from eating with the Galatian (non-Jewish) Christians. This was a perfect example of when practice doesn’t match preaching. Please don’t hurry to judge Peter. Peer pressure, our weaknesses (remember Peter under pressure denying knowing Jesus?) and circumstances can cause even the best to lapse. The consequences: the relatively younger-in-the-faith Paul feeling betrayed by his friend and mentor Barnabas, who joined Peter. His own understanding of the Good News of Jesus must have been shaken by what a stalwart like Peter did. And what about how the Galatian Christians felt? But Paul, now a zealous Christ-follower, saw clearly through the hypocrisy: “…they weren’t acting consistently with the truth of the gospel” (v.14). He did the courageous thing and confronted someone of known spiritual stature like Peter.
Can love and truth be the basis of standing up for the right thing as well as those who are marginalized (see Ephesians 4:15)? What can we do to surround ourselves with people who encourage us to live what we say we believe?
Prayer: Lord, please help me to understand the real “truth of the gospel” and act consistently with that truth. I know that is not always easy: I catch myself not doing what I say I believe because it is not convenient at the moment, or the peer pressure is too strong, or my own past weaknesses make me stumble. But I know that same undeserved love that saved me, healed my relationship with you, is the same grace that will give me the courage to be the Christ-follower you’ve called me to be…if only I depend on the Holy Spirit you have given me! O Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me…Amen.
Song: Spirit of the Living God (Voices of Praise)
SONG - CLICK HERE
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