Monday, 28 June, 2004

Text: Galatians 2:6-10



And from those who were supposed to be acknowledged leaders (what they actually were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) - those leaders contributed nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me in sending me to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do.



I think it is significant to lift up what the "pillars" did during this meeting in Jerusalem. I think it was inspired and obvious. They "recognized the grace" that had been given to Paul. The folk in Jerusalem may have had a bit of a bias toward those who were Jewish and now were following Jesus - people who may have been continuing in the ways of the Jewish practices (circumcision to name one). And yet, what Paul is doing among the uncircumcised - even though it is among "them" - is the word of Grace given to Paul. To deny that...to stop that...to put a hold on that - would be to put a hold on the whole word of the Good News. I think they realized that. Blessed are they - those early leaders - for the presence of the Holy Spirit was able to press on through the barriers of our religious preferences and into the day full of Grace!



Going out to the Gentiles was big deal. Bigger than any of the "issues" that seem to keep us bound up and unable to open our doors wide to all of God's people even today. It is wonderful to see that there were these big differences between people/groups in the early life of the Church and that these differences were continually dismantled so that the Good News would be the word of the day.



Connection: Grace has a life about it. Put acts of grace and mercy and love next to the other ways we act in our day and there is quite no comparison. Though we continually fall short of the life within God's Gracious Reign, it is still a reality that is established for all time and we are able to enter it again and again. Why, because it is the Gracious Reign of God. Simply enjoy the acts of grace within your day and thank God for the Spirit of Life that makes them blossom around us.



God of Grace and God of Glory, be our pathway and our vision. In the face of what may prevail around us, grant us the grace to be people who stand and walk and live within your Reigning love. Amen.