Skip to main content

Consistency of Relationship

“When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, ‘You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?’” Galatians 2:14

The thing that confuses, frustrates or discourages non-believers toward the Gospel is hypocrisy. And Peter was standing in it and smelling like it. So, Paul confronts him publicly. He was enjoying spending time with the Gentiles before some very conservative religious folks showed up. All of a sudden, it was not proper to eat with the Gentiles and Peter pulled back. His hypocrisy led to others, even including Barnabas. Paul challenges Peter with the Gospel, for this is not how the Gospel would act. And the issue was eventually resolved.

It is the consistency of relationship with pre-believers and new believers that is so vital. Many times the Lord is doing a work in the life of the believer, molding and shaping us, while using this weak and broken vessel to reach into the life of another person.

Is there any place in your life right now where hypocrisy is hurting your witness to a family member, neighbor or friend? If so, confess it and deal with it and allow the Lord to grow you beyond it.

Prayer Focus: Lord, may the words of my mouth, the meditations of my heart and the actions of my life be reflective of and consistent with You.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Storyteller

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Acts 1:8-9 These are the last words Jesus speaks to his Apostles just before ascending into heaven. Not what they were expecting. They were wondering when Jesus was going to set up His Kingdom on earth. As He was ascending into heaven He reveals we are the ones to accomplish the task. Jesus’ departure is not desertion; it is a commission to be the storytellers of truth to the rest of the world. Frequently, we look at this scripture in relationship to our life. We perceive Jerusalem as our own community, Judea as our city, Samaria as our country and the ends of the earth as the world. Christ informed the apostles they will have the power of the Holy Spirit to reach these people. Notice the word “and...” Jesus didn’t say...
1 comment
Read more

The Way We Pray

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 What brings answered prayer in a Christian’s life? Do you ever feel that you pray and God is silent or that you grow weary in your prayer life because it seems that God isn’t answering your heart’s desires? Could it be that many times it is because of the way we are praying? This passage of Scripture goes on to say, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Taking God’s yoke on ourselves is a picture of an animal having a harness around its neck and can’t move to the right or left but only where the farmer is leading. It may seem restrictive to see God in that same way, but He wants us to follow Him looking straight ahead and keeping our eyes focused on Him and His purposes. It keeps us from getting sidetracked in our Christian walk. Then, our praying becomes asking Him for things He is desiring for us and those aro...
Post a Comment
Read more

What Just Happened?

“They said to one another, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?’” Luke 24:32 There are many times in our walk with the Lord that God meets us exactly where we are at, in a moment of great crisis, or maybe a moment of great joy. These are often powerful moments that form our view of God and help us trust Him. The natural reaction to encounters like this is often to run and find someone to share that experience with. There are other moments when God meets us in the midst of our conversations with others. Have you ever experienced a time when an everyday conversation about life turns into a moment when together, you come in contact with the living God? See, often we only think worship happens in the church walls or at least with a church function, but worship, giving of ourselves to the Lord, happens every time we come in contact with Jesus, and respond to Him. That might happen on a jobsite, in ...
Post a Comment
Read more