Today’s Reading: Leviticus 7; Leviticus 8; Leviticus 9; Acts 15
Scripture: Acts 15:1-2
1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them...
Observation: The early church was growing and spreading. Gentiles had been added to the church's first converts who were all Jews. Here, teachers arrive with a "new" message: "Jesus is great but you need just this one more thing: You need the Law..." Paul and Barnabas wisely would have none of it.
Application: There will always be legalism in religion. We humans like to make lists to define things. We all do it. And the church is no exception. And when you make a list, you compare it to the lists of others to see how they measure up (you know, to your correct list). And there are some people who just love to make long lists and then lay them on other people. Just do this and this and this and this and...
Bottom line: God gave us several lists. We find them in the Bible. One has ten items. Jesus boiled it down to two. Anything not in the Bible is somebody else's idea. They can have it.
Prayer: Lord, help me to keep it simple. I don't want to add a thing to what You want from Your people. Help me, Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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