2022_02_07 Insight Post- Kim Feld
This week’s reading- Acts 11-12
Acts 11 opens with the Jewish believers challenging Peter on his decision to break Jewish laws and traditions by entering a Gentile’s home and eating with him (see verse 3). Verse 1 tells us that the Jewish believers in Judea had heard that “the Gentiles had received the word of God,” and yet, their focus was on the laws that Peter broke. The Jewish believers seemed to be open to Gentiles becoming followers of Christ, as long as they became Jews first, demonstrated by circumcision.
Peter tells the story of his vision and being given the green light to see Cornelius. When he shared that the Gentiles present received the Holy Spirit, just as the Jewish believers had, there was no denying that God was at work. Unfortunately, as we continue our reading, we will see that this is not the last time the issue of circumcision will rise to try to cause disunity.
In reading this chapter in my Life Application Study Bible, one of the notes caught my eye. It says, “The Jewish believers understood how certain prophecies were fulfilled in Christ, but they overlooked other Old Testament teachings. Too often, we are inclined to accept only the parts of God’s Word that appeals to us and support our own agendas, ignoring the teachings we don’t like” (Life Application Study Bible, 2004, p. 1842). Ouch.
It can be so easy to pick and choose from God’s Word, taking what we like but leaving the rest behind. For example, we love reading about God’s love for us, but what about when He tells us that because of that love, we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (see Matthew 5:44)? It’s demanding to love those who persecute us, but what about when it comes from inside our own “ranks”? How are we to respond to other followers of Christ when we disagree? Do we have our own set of laws and traditions that we believe they must adhere to be considered part of the family? How does that line up with these words from Peter?
22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
(I Peter 1:22 NLT)
Do we accept the entire Word of God or only the parts that we are comfortable with or support our own agenda? Are we willing to ask God to search our hearts and show us what He sees?
Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach
Reference:
Life Application Study Bible: New Living Translation. (2004). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.