ESOCS Devotional 3 August
TEXT: Galatians 2: 11-21
MEMORY VERSE: “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.” Galatians 2:11–13
Peter was a frontline disciple of Christ, an Apostle of the Apostles, highly anointed, great preacher of the word, bold, sometimes fiery in Faith and a man of great influence in the church. A man of such pedigree is usually treated with great respect, sometimes bothering on fear. They are seen and rightly so, as very close to the Lord and vast in the knowledge of God. It is believed that they act from the basis of divine information.
It is usually not easy to talk to people of this class when they are in error, sometimes in order not to be disrespectful of them and at other times for the sake of peace. But their error has very significant and far reaching effect on the church they lead, who see them as mentors and examples. Thus, when a leader is in error, the church is in danger. Peter allowed himself to be influenced by the presence of certain people to do that which was contrary to the gospel of Christ, which he knew as true and which he practiced. Bold Peter as in the night of Christ’s trial could not be bold in the defense e of the gospel when it was most needed; he feared what man would say and what man will do. He did not want to be seen by the leaders in bad light and so could not stand up boldly for the gospel but slid back to practices and ways that were not in tandem with processes of the new covenant. The result was that all those with him, including the apostles, were misled and they followed him in the wrong practice. Noteworthy people like Barnabas could not say anything but rather joined him in the wrong conduct. Situations like this lead to a gradual erosion of Christian ideals and take the congregation away from grace.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
But Paul will have none of that. He will not do anything that will compromise the sanctity of the cross of Christ. For him, Christianity and his call was everything, far above all else. He would not corrupt his faith or compromise the ideals of the gospel for anyone or for anything. His drive is better put in his own words, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). We need to be thus minded. Our actions and inactions as Christians have far-reaching effect on the health of the Church. We need to be like Paul, committed to the Lord even unto death.
CHALLENGES
- Think of any five things that can stop you from being committed to Christ as Paul was.
- Why do they have such hold on you?
PRAYER POINT:
- Ask God for grace to be bold and courageous in the faith.
- Pray that God enables you to be a blessing to those you lead and the church of God.
FURTHER READING: Micah 6:1-16; 7:1- 7; Mark 10:1-12; 10:13-34
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 3rd August
