Acts 15 & 16
These chapters contain some of my favourite stories about Paul. There is drama and adventure. There is conflict between Paul and Barnabas. There is a new mission. There is trouble and earthquakes and integrity and revelation and conversion. It’s all in here. So LORD what are you saying to me in this? It is the gentleness and wisdom of the church leadership to not make things too hard for Gentiles to follow Jesus. Following Jesus is hard enough with the work of God’s Spirit in us to die to ourselves and to trust in God without the extras of people hanging on to old ways. It must have been a real challenge to discern what is old and must be let behind and what is new of God and needs to be encouraged and free to develop. Same today I think. [Prayer - LORD show me the gentleness of your Spirit's leading in accepting your new and letting go my old. LORD bless all those who are meeting you for the first time - may they learn more of your love and grace...as I need to as well. Amen]
