SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:12-21
“We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” (Acts 15:20)
God’s ultimate goal is to invite everyone into His family, saints, sinners and all.
Not everyone accepts, but those who do should be gently loved towards Jesus.
Don’t expect absolute transformation right away, people need time to grow.
To be honest, I find it odd that they select THESE four rules from Moses’ Law:
— eating food devoted to idols, sexual immorality, meat from strangled animals, and blood
— what about murder, or lying, or coveting?
My guess is that basic morality was assumed, but these commands had contextual meaning.
These were the kinds of practices involved in the worship of the other gods.
In others words, turn away from the other gods and their religious practices.
Aside from this, let new converts start easy with the religious practices.
Jesus’ burden is easy, His yoke is light… don’t make it complicated.
Love God, love people, and grow from there.
Trust that if God wants them in His family, He will help them grow into His likeness.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, in the end grace wins. Help me not to impose my religious convictions on others. Help me to trust that if they are open to You, You will take care of sanctifying them.
Observation/Application
Listen to the stories of the missionaries what the Lord God is doing. God is still doing amazing things among the peoples of the world. Do we/I have open ears and eyes? A softened heart? God is still at work this day. How do we support this work? Do we support those proclaiming the Good News or also make it difficult for them by our lack of support in prayer AND in finances? And the new Christians, how are they accepted into the Church iniversal? Must they be like us or like the early church and whole families were accepted immediately after hearing the Good News? Are we a stepping stone or a stumbling block for others?
God is at work also this day and we/I must do all to enable others to come to Jesus.
Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! We will early turn to Thee.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! We will early turn to Thee.