Broken Yokes

Paul and Barnabus end up in Jerusalem to share God-stories, but a dispute arises over the topic of circumcision. Peter steps up and makes his case, which comes as a relief to many of the Gentile men. Peter had helped them see how God was inviting new people into faith; Paul now has the opportunity to show them how they could be challenged to step deeper into that faith themselves and see how the work that Jesus did was greater even than their own ideas.

Read: Acts 15:1-12 (NLT)

Explore the Theme: The Pharisees were the original legalists, placing barriers and enforcing a division between Jews and Gentiles. Paul and Barnabus come into the conversation to bring about unity and love between the two groups. They illustrate how it was through the undeserved grace of Jesus that we have been saved, and so we must extend the same grace to others.

Take a moment to consider how Paul’s faith in God has grown: from seeing Jesus as a renegade, standing against religious laws, to Jesus as the fulfillment of those laws, then to the grace of Jesus being greater than the law. Stand in the apostles' places as they are challenged by the faith of Paul and Barnabas. What do you see? How does this challenge you?

Ask God: Discord among the Church can be harmful on various levels - some elements of discord are starkly evident while others are more covert in their divisiveness. Are there any external or internal barriers you’ve experienced in your own life? How is this passage moving you towards the love of God?

Live it Out: The world is full of critics, opposition and disparagers. Identify the source of any discord present in your life and pray for a heart like Jesus towards your predicament. Grace is what makes salvation possible for us; find a way to cultivate it and extend it in your daily life. Pray for God to reveal what grace should look like in your situation.