Called to Gather, Pray, and Worship
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
~ Apostle Paul
Pondering Point
This blessing is found among words of encouragement from Paul winding up his letter. Acknowledging we will have anxious times, he points us back to God, with the promise of these words above. There CAN BE PEACE even in anxious times.
Scripture Story for the Week
Paul Confronts Peter
on His Actions
Galatians 2:11-21
Our story is drawn from the reading used in Monday’s Immersion experience. The Apostle Paul had found the Apostle Peter living hypocritically and confronts him in order to keep the church aligned with the Gospel’s message of truth. That is taking reconciliation and sin seriously.
Let’s be candid here. Applying God’s Word to how we live is not always easy. Which verse is to be applied to which situation? Which teachings are to be to set aside and which ones implemented? The bible can be a confusing set of teachings–with many denominations and non-denominations to prove that point. Many people duck such issues, leaving it to others or saying something like “never discuss religion or politics with family.”
That is hardly taking God and His word seriously. The bible says that we are to live by the Spirit and not under the Law (Galatians 5:18). Obedience still matters, but not to the law. It is obedience to the Holy Spirit living in us (Romans 8:12-13). So how to we live according to Spirit and what can we learn from his law? So many things to disagree about! Just because people disagree does not mean we should abandon efforts to apply God’s word. After the story, let’s ask God to show us the way. Now, enjoy and learn from this story of God’s word.
Galatians 2:11-21
Paul Opposes Cephas
11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.
19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
Prayer for the Week
Father God, let Your indwelling Holy Spirit lead me to live according to Your ways, to take seriously Your Word and Your ways. Let me gently help others see the truth behind Your ways in order to apply them as well. Let it all center in Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen.