Galatians ~ Day 4

Galatians ~ Week 1 ~ Day 4

Today we are reading Galatians 2:1-10. I have posted it below. If you have a few extra minutes please share your insights, applications, or thoughts. Here are today’s verses for you to read…This is fun fellowshipping with you!

Galatians 2:1-10

“1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and them to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”

“They asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” Galatians 2:10

After 14 years, Paul went to Jerusalem to meet privately with the leaders. He wanted to be sure that they were preaching the same gospel because some false brothers had slipped into the church and were adding in legalistic rules for salvation. After it was clear that they all were in agreement, they asked that Paul remember the poor. Right after clarifying the gospel, Paul talks about caring for the poor. He could have talked about anything else—tithing, loving one another, or perhaps styles of worship but the very next focus was the poor. Some believe if we preach too much grace then believers won’t do anything for the Lord—but it’s the opposite. God’s grace should motivate us to help others. Because we have been rescued, we need to rescue others who are oppressed and in need. Paul was a very busy man—-traveling, speaking, writing and in prison——yet he was not too busy to help the poor. Instead, he was eager to help the poor.

My reflection for the day: I love being reminded that God is no respecter of persons, God is loving of all. But for the grace of God, there goes I ~ thank you Lord that you saved and set me free. He has no favorites. He cares for the lowest of those. Everyone is equal in God’s eyes to receive the Gospel no matter if there are differences of opinion.

Reflection Questions: Are you eager to help the poor? How does remembering God’s grace motivate you and in what ways can you do more to help the poor?