He Made No Distinction
Scripture: Acts 15:1-21
7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. (Acts 15:7-9 NLT)
The Jews, even some of those who had converted to faith in Jesus Christ, still operated as if salvation started on the outside with obedience to a complex set of laws and rules and then worked its way to the inside as habits of behavior were formed. Peter reminded them (and us) that our new life in Christ begins at the very center of who we are—a new birth that occurs by grace through faith in Jesus Christ—and then works its way out from the center of our being into changed attitudes and behavior.
I want to remind us of the powerful significance of this Council at Jerusalem. An issue had arisen that involved strongly-held doctrinal opinions on each side of the question. This is the kind of thing that separates friends, breaks fellowship, and starts new denominations! I believe they are showing us a better way. Tell the stories, listen and learn, reach a decision that requires adjustments in opinion and practice, and maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
Long-term Christ-followers have to be careful not to make the same error the Jews were making. We get used to the attitude and behavior elements of the Christian life and we functionally forget that transformation starts at the very center of every person’s being and then works its way out into changed values and behavior.
It’s a Spirit-born, Spirit-fueled transformation of who we are. Day by day, situation by situation, as we learn to let the Spirit of Christ prompt and teach and guide us from within, new life works itself outward from the very center and finds expression in new ways of thinking, talking, and behaving. Let’s not be so concerned with the stuff on the outside, we miss the new life that is growing outward from the very center of who we are!
Prayer:
Father, I ask you to help me with two things today: Help me not to be satisfied with “approved behavior” on the outside of me, when there are still things at the very center of who I am that you are working to change. And help me not to be quick to judge others by external detail when I can’t see what you’re doing at the very center of who they are. Amen.