Daily Devotion for July 13, 2024

 

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read Acts 15:1-35.

While Jesus was with the apostles, he taught them through both words and deeds to include outsiders, the Gentiles. He visited the Samaritan territory and led a woman there to faith in him, who then led many others to him. He healed a Roman officer’s servant. He made it clear that he came to seek and to save anyone and everyone he could.

When he returned to heaven, his followers continued to learn that lesson. The most prominent of his apostles, both Peter and Paul, had experiences which showed them that the Holy Spirit was continuing to teach and guide that lesson. That came to a climactic moment here at the Jerusalem Council. Some of those who had come to believe in Jesus still maintained and taught that a Gentile had to first become a Jew, with all of the rituals and practices related to that, in order for faith in Jesus to make them right with God. Some were there at the Council meeting to make that very point. However, after hearing witnesses of what the Spirit was doing in and through the Gentiles, the early Church leaders changed their old understanding and followed what they could see the Spirit was doing.

One of the most challenging aspects of being the people of Christ is stating what we think and believe with conviction while at the same time being open to what the Spirit of God seeks to teach us, which may be in conflict with what we used to think and believe. May God give each of us the wisdom and courage we need to find and live that balance.

Personal Worship Option:

One of the prayers I pray almost every day is this portion of the Serenity Prayer: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Through Christ, Amen.