Sunday, March 11, 2012

Faithfully challenge the church 
S - Gal 2
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?


O - Paul's testimony in Galatians is one of justification of his ministry, and is an example to us of how to speak the truth in love even among authorities in your own church.  Paul delivers his justification not by condemning Peter who he is in disagreement in this verse,  but rather by truth.  In prior versus Paul discusses how he came to the pillars in the church, James, John and Peter earlier in his ministry and shared how he had been preaching the gospel among the gentiles.  In this case, Peter agreed with what Paul was doing, and was likely a large influence on the council decision, since he himself had received a vision from the lord on sharing the gospel with the gentiles.


A - The application for me is to really take a look at how boldly Paul challenge even senior leadership in the earlier church.  Peter was no small pillar, and when he saw his behavior as inconsistent with the truth of the gospel, and God's revelation through his son Jesus, he challenged Peter.  In our lives, and in the ministry I believe we need to do the same.  First off we are all susceptible to getting off track, and we all need to be correctable not just by the holy spirit, but by the godly people Christ has surrounded us.  A community of believers cares for one another, and part of caring is disciple, accountability.   How we go about correcting, or guiding our brothers and sisters is an area we must handle with love and grace, but it is very necessary to be keep us from straying from God's truth.


P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would show me your ways for leading and correcting the church.  I pray you would guide those in leadership today to correct the straying sheep, as well as being correctable in their own hearts.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

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