Acts 15:7-11 NLT
At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”
Lots to consider in these verses:
1. Division always starts with opinions on how things should be done or what other believers should be doing or shouldn’t be doing.
Peter’s conclusion is that “So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that we nor our ancestors were able to bear?”
How often do we do this to the new believers around us?
This is a process that is in the sovereign control of God.
How often does the thoughts our mind go to? “Wow, they’re always getting stuck on that; when are they going to get it?”
Sometimes to the point of writing them off, I am thankful that Jesus didn’t do that with me.
2. Our responsibility is to gently show them back to the path, with the full faith that God will and is doing His work.
How often do we find ourselves questioning the leadership and grumbling to each other about the music or the direction we are taking as a church?
All of these things put us in a spot where we are getting into the “thick of thin things.”
Meaning we focus on everything except the main point, which Peter sums up perfectly with this statement, “We believe that we are saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”
This is the one thing that should drive us to our knees before Jesus Christ, submitting every fiber of our being to His Will and mercy.
I don’t know about you, but I have enough on my hands handling my own indiscretions before God.
And with the continuing study of God’s Word, I am finding that it will be my life submitted to God’s will in the presence of others that will provide the greatest influence in them to come to know Jesus Christ.
This will also provide hope and encouragement to younger believers in the church as well.
Heavenly Father, You call us to live in harmony as a body of believers, united in one purpose, “to make disciples.”
Please keep our minds focused on what is important and away from the prideful thoughts of how we think things “should be,“ realizing that You are in sovereign control of the growth of Your church.
Help us focus on what we need to be doing and less on what we think others should be doing.
Yet giving us the discernment, gentleness, and compassion to confront the sin that we may observe in others, knowing that You will ultimately see it through. Let us do this in a humble, loving, and gentle manner.
Jesus, thank You for Your grace and mercy. I will be forever grateful for Your sacrifice of love, compassion, and forgiveness. Let me lavishly extend this to those around me in a spirit of unity and humility.
In Your name, I pray, Amen !! 🙏❤️
