Passage of the Day:
When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? – Galatians 2:11-14.
Reflection:
According to a first century historian, the citizens of Antioch called members of this newly founded church Christians in Acts 11:26. Unfortunately, sometimes followers of Jesus can get so caught up in playing church that they fail to emulate a Christ-like life. According to the apostle Paul, Peter and Barnabas was so consumed with following Jewish practices that they separated themselves. Like the Puritans who came to America as well as the Amish in Pennsylvania, withdrawing from your culture doesn’t model a Christ like example. Rather, if you want to develop a faith that stands the test of time, you have to engage our culture like the apostle Paul during a trip to Athens, Acts 17:16-28.
Prayerful Action:
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you, Acts 17:22-23.
Working Out Your Salvation:
Every culture has a place where locals are afraid to go. This could be a crime ridden neighborhood, a sketchy part of town or an unsafe city. Yet, the apostle Paul uses apologetics, the science of defending your faith, to find something that he has in common with the people of Athens. Sometimes, working out your salvation requires the ability to ask questions and listen. Let God be the one to judge the living and the dead. As long as Christians look for creative ways to share your spiritual journey with Jesus, your faith will stand the test of time.
Song of the Day:
Christians shouldn’t be shocked when members of their church make poor decisions or become ensnared by sin. The apostle Paul is call about mankind’s ability to remain faithful in Romans 3:9-12. Nonetheless, if you strive to chase after a faith described by the attached song, you will stand the test of time.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 