Standing his ground
Opening Prayer
Lord, I want to care about what You think and what You want from me.
Read GALATIANS 2:1–10
[1] Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. [2] I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. [3] Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. [4] This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. [5] We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. [6] As for those who were held in high esteem-whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism-they added nothing to my message. [7] On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. [8] For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. [9] James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. [10] All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is the dividing line for Paul?There are several points in Paul’s story where he makes people very uncomfortable—and he didn’t care who they were! There is only one opinion Paul cares about, and that is God’s. In the early years of the church’s history, there was fierce disagreement about the importance of circumcision. For men who were born Jews, or became Jews, circumcision was the compulsory and unmistakable sign that they belonged to God’s chosen race—a costly initiation which marked a person for life. In fact, you couldn’t imagine being a Jewish male and not being circumcised. Now Paul makes the very radical assertion that men from other races and nations (Gentiles) can join Jewish Christians in their faith in Jesus without being circumcised. He has successfully argued for this in the highest council of the church (Acts 15:1,2). It caused a seismic upheaval in everyone’s understanding, because it really brought home that faith in Jesus is for everyone, regardless of their identity, qualification or background.
Apply
Get into a position of surrender, such as kneeling or laying prostrate, and fix your focus on God.
Closing prayer
Lord of love, teach me to wait on You, to take time so that I am so aware of You near me that my heart burns within me.
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