Devotion:
Read Acts 15:12-21, 30-35.
This meeting in Jerusalem was a key turning point in the early spread of the good news of Jesus Christ. Both Peter and Paul had witnessed the activity of the Holy Spirit in the Gentiles and knew that God was guiding them into new understandings. Being in a right relationship with God was being offered by God as a gift to everyone, not from keeping all the rules of the Law. But that message was not accepted by many of the Jewish leaders of that time. So, they would come in behind Jesus’ messengers and tell people they had to follow all the rituals and rules before they could be saved. Much confusion developed and that prompted the meeting in Jerusalem. After hearing from both Peter and Paul about what God was doing, the leaders discerned what the key requirements should be for being the people of Christ and sent a letter of blessing and affirmation.
It is no different in our day and time. As the people of Christ, we are to always be paying attention to where the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of others and follow the guidance of the Spirit. We have to be wary about placing our personal understandings on others which are not fundamental to representing our Lord.
Peter summed it up best in the verse just before our reading for today: “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” Offering God’s gift of grace to everyone was the core message then and it still is.
Personal Worship Option:
Who are the “outsiders” (Gentiles) you know who need to hear about God’s gift of grace? How might you best communicate that gift with them?
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