Devotionals for August 23, 2022
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READ
Galatians 2:11-16
"11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
14 When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?
15 “You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”
"11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
14 When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?
15 “You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”
REFLECT
Peter was acting like a hypocrite by eating with Gentile believers when his friends weren’t around. Compromise is an important element in getting along with others, but we should never compromise the truth of God’s word. Paul knew he had to confront Peter so that the church wouldn’t be damaged. Because they were on the same mission, Paul knew he had to talk to Peter directly. This is a great example of what iron sharpening iron looks like.
APPLY
Q: Why did Paul feel he needed to confront Peter?
Q: Are there things in your life that need to be confronted? Do you act one way in one environment and another somewhere else?
Q: Do you know anyone who needs to be lovingly confronted? Are you connected to a community with other believers?
Q: Are there things in your life that need to be confronted? Do you act one way in one environment and another somewhere else?
Q: Do you know anyone who needs to be lovingly confronted? Are you connected to a community with other believers?
SING
PRAY
"May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
God, humble me! Help me to examine my own ways and look for areas I need to improve. Bring Christian role models into my life that can hold me accountable for my actions. Teach me to be a disciple and give me more of your Holy Spirit. Show me how to be connected to other believers with a common mission.
God, humble me! Help me to examine my own ways and look for areas I need to improve. Bring Christian role models into my life that can hold me accountable for my actions. Teach me to be a disciple and give me more of your Holy Spirit. Show me how to be connected to other believers with a common mission.