January 30, 2012

Acts 15:1-12 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:
Matthew 10:1-15, Psalm 22:12-31, Genesis 49

Journal Entry

Scripture

10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Observation

After Paul and Barnabas returns from their first missionary trip, there is faction within the Jerusalem church that wants to add additional conditions for salvation. The Christians who were previously Pharisees are demanding that Gentile believers must follow Mosaic law and be circumcised in order to be saved. A council is called in the Jerusalem church and after much debate, Peter speaks up to uphold salvation by grace and reject other conditions.

Application

Sometime I find myself thinking that I am special because of some spiritual thing that I do. When I am really deluded, I even think that I am better than others. This is a common trap for humans to want to be special or to want to look down on others. This is the great lie of pride that keeps us from seeing our own sin and realizing our desperate state without God's grace. As Peter said, we will be saved by grace of the Lord Jesus. There is nothing more than the cross. I am equally undeserving of this grace as the rest of humanity. We can only thank God for His mercy and accept this gift that cost so much.

Prayer

Lord, help us to realize that it is only by your grace that we are saved. We acknowledge our total inability to save ourselves. We cling to the cross that saved us from our sin. Help us to live in gratitude for your gift of grace. We thank you. And in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

--J. Lim