Scripture: Acts 15:7-11 (the Council of Jerusalem)
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
Thought for the Day: This is the scripture I used at our staff meeting yesterday morning. After we read it together, I asked a question about the grace of God that appeared to be ever growing to include more and more people. Is the grace of God growing, or is humanity growing in its receptivity of that gift? If God is the same yesterday, today and forever, then wouldn’t you think that God’s love would be the same tomorrow as it was 3000 years ago? I believe it is important for us to see God’s love as this all inclusive, far-reaching gift for all people in all times. What we need to discuss is how human beings have chosen to understand the gift, describe the gift, mediate the gift and withhold the gift that was never intended to be withheld. When you look at the life of Jesus, what do you see? When Paul and Peter stood before that council, they were men who had struggled to release the powerful gift from their control. Yet in time and through much struggle, they relinquished much of their hold upon it… but not quite all. It is an ongoing process for all of history.
Prayer: Lord, let me glimpse your grace that could only be described as Amazing Grace. As I glimpse it, give me the courage to allow it to freely move into those places I’m not ready to see it go. Amen.
