Acts 15:1-21
Reflect
Early in the book of Acts we read Jesus’ commission to share the Gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. As these concentric circles expanded, so increased the number of people who would not be considered children of Israel. What were these witnesses to do with the Gentile converts? Here in Acts 15 there was debate about the requirements of salvation. At the Jerusalem council, Paul reminded the Jewish believers how the Law had shown to be an unbearable yoke. Why would they perpetuate this external requirement that was not part of the Gospel message? Paul’s words are so encouraging. “No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” What good news that is! We are all saved by God’s grace which is available to anyone, no matter what.
Apply
Do we sometimes want to add some qualifiers to God’s grace? You can be saved but you first need to lose that bad habit, or change some of your vocabulary, etc. We are told in Philippians 1, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion”. I thank God for His grace as He continues to work in me, and in all who are saved by the grace of God.
Pastor Mike
Pray
- Pray for Pastor Lyle, for his family and his ministry.
- Pray for Eric Peters, Facility Manager; Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Maintenance, Joe Richards.
- Pray for our Church Board members: Barbara Whidden, Bee Stiansen, Cam Klapstein, Darryl Sparling, Gerhard Hiob, Julie Leverette, Marvin Schneider, Matt Barker, Matt Chute, Mike Pedde, and Nick Mitchell.