For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Acts 15
How did the council at Jerusalem come to a very difficult conclusion? List the steps they took. How does this influence your decision making? The two main things I notice about how the council arrived at their decision are that they made the decision as a group and that they turned to the information and evidence provided by God to guide them.
Peter’s testimony of how God used him to bring the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, with nothing but their faith as a requirement, was one piece of evidence. That was followed by testimony from Paul and Barnabas as to the work God was doing among the Gentiles through them, also with no requirement other than their faith. Finally, James turned to the words of the prophets – their scripture. God’s word spoke of bringing the Gentiles into His fold. He spoke of them as Gentiles, not as converts to Judaism. James then wisely suggested that they not stand as roadblocks to God’s work among them.
I am still confused about the final decision, however. I get the sexual immorality, as there is no escaping the fact that one who chases his sexual desires is still a slave to the flesh. But the other three come across as more legalistic. The Bible Project’s video on the second half of Acts mentions that these four things are associated with pagan practices. I can certainly see the benefit in setting yourself apart from such things even if, as Paul talks about in some of his letters, you are free to do them. So perhaps this was about avoiding the appearance of impurity, not to make yourself look righteous but, rather, to not trip up others. And perhaps it was about providing a few simple and beneficial ways to avoid further dissention from those who tended toward legalism without appeasing them by turning toward legalism yourself.
Whatever the case, they kept God’s work and word as the foundation for their decision. Yet they still considered how their decisions and actions might impact both fellow believers and those to whom they witnessed. It’s a delicate balance. But if we can give up a few freedoms, without falling into the trap of appeasement, to keep the path to Christ a little more open, shouldn’t we?
Ex. 27-28
Why was Aaron to bear the names of sons of Israel on his shoulders? What does this suggest to you about your prayers? I have never really noticed or thought about how Aaron bore the names of the sons of Israel on his shoulders and over his heart. Since Aaron, as a priest, acted as a mediator between God and his people, this would have served as a reminder to him that he approached God and sacrificed to Him on the people’s behalf. Every time he came to God, Aaron brought those names before Him.
It makes me think of Jesus, our ultimate mediator. He bears the government on His shoulders (Is. 9:6). And His prayer for those who are His, in John 17, certainly indicates that our names are in His heart. And so God uses Aaron to paint a picture of how Jesus brings us to Him. Aaron was also to wear a gold seal, engraved with the words, “HOLY TO THE LORD” on his turban. “It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate…so that they will be acceptable to the LORD.” (Ex. 28:38). Thus, when we “offer [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Rom. 12:1), Jesus bears the guilt associated with that so that our sacrifice is acceptable to God.
Ps. 17
Choose a couple verses from this psalm that you would like to be your prayer today. Pray it at various times during the day. My prayer is that I would “Let my vindication come from [God]” (Ps. 17:2a). I pray that when God probes my heart, “[He] will find that I have planned no evil” (Ps. 17:3b). David also prays that he will not fall prey to people’s bribes. I suggest that bribes are not always in obvious form. The wicked are always trying to entice the righteous into their ways; down to their level. That, to me, is bribery. When they keep picking at you, trying to lure you into striking back – that is bribery. When they succeed in pushing you to seek your own vindication, they have won.
Wickedness is all around us, some of it more personal than others. I don’t want to be lured into focusing on that. Instead, I want to focus on the “wonders of [God’s] great love” (vs. 7a), trusting Him to do what is right. If I stay true to God, He will protect me from those who are out to destroy me. God will confront their callous hearts and their arrogant mouths. They seek their reward in this life, but I will seek my reward in God. When I see His face, I want to be able to say, “My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled” (Ps. 17:5).