Dear Lord God, we come before You in worship and praise, for You are the orchestrator of Your creation. Be with us as we spend time with You, and guide us to what You want to show us.
What fun to bump into Peter and John (and James as well this time) in a letter Paul wrote to the Galatians! We can learn quite a bit about John from Paul’s words. First, he was considered a pillar of the church – one of the “great leaders” of the Christian community, although Paul was quick to point out that rank did not really exist in that early church – all were servants in imitation of Jesus, who came to serve. Second, John and the other two welcomed Paul and Titus, a Gentile, into the fellowship without hindrance. John was no longer thinking in terms of “us” and “them” like he was when he wanted the fire to fall on Samaritan villages and people who spoke of Jesus but weren’t part of the inside group. Third, John and the others were encouraging to Paul, affirming his ministry to the Gentiles and only stressing one beautiful thing: that Paul continues to help the poor – the least ones. I absolutely loved seeing our John as a seasoned leader in this reference. How about you?
My verse: Galatians 2:8, “For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.”
My response: This is such a great reminder, Lord. Not everyone is called to the same mission field. I need to applaud those working with the poor in Thailand, those working in soup kitchens in New York City, and all who serve by caring for the sick or imprisoned or homeless. But I don’t need to feel false guilt that I am not doing all those things myself. Show me where You want to work through me, Lord, and help me to do that well.
What’s next?
As the Spirit leads, share what He has laid on your heart in the comment section below. Then join us again tomorrow for the next commentary.
