Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

There was a time after I gave my life to Christ when, instead of living in freedom, I was chained to the pursuit of perfection. I strived to participate in all the Bible Studies, pray at all the right times, volunteer at all the events, and always be a kind and patient person. Please don't misunderstand me! These were all good, worthy pursuits, but accomplishing these good things was not a requirement to maintain my salvation. I found so much joy in working and spending time with the Lord, but when I missed an event, skipped a journal entry, or fell asleep during an early morning prayer, I experienced overwhelming feelings of shame and inadequacy. There was no way I could do everything perfectly, and I felt like such a failure! These faith practices which were intended to be a blessing had become a burden. I had taken what was meant to grow and strengthen my personal relationship with the Lord and made them into unattainable salvation requirements. I wish someone had sat me down then and told me that Jesus didn't need me to achieve perfection because my salvation was already complete in Him.

In the first section of Acts 15, some men were going around preaching that in order to be saved Gentile Christians were required to follow all of the laws of the Jewish religion. Paul and Barnabas heard this and knew it was not the message of grace and freedom that Jesus promised. As they made their way to Jerusalem to speak to the apostles and elders about the issue, they encountered a group of Pharisees who were believers. These recovering legalists said what you might expect, “It is necessary to circumcise [Gentiles] and to command them to keep the laws of Moses” (Acts 15:5). These Pharisees trusted and obeyed Jesus, but they were still growing and trying to reconcile their faith with their religion. In doing so, they were putting an unnecessary burden on their Gentile brothers and sisters in Christ and conveying the message: Faith + the Law saves. These believers were doing what the New Testament scriptures warned against – adding requirements to Jesus' Gospel (Galatians 1, Ephesians 2, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 3).

In Acts 15:11, Peter reminded the gathered leaders that there is only one source of salvation, “…We are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.” Paul, Barnabas, Peter, and James all agreed that Christians, whether Jew or Gentile, were saved through the same gospel when they believed and followed Jesus. Jesus came to give freedom from sin AND the Law that had weighed down the Jews for generations. The Law was always designed to show their need for a savior, not a path to earn salvation. They couldn’t save themselves through their own efforts, and Jesus never wanted them to! It was a burden they could not bear, and Jesus desired to lift that weight (Matthew 11:28-30). The Jerusalem Council sent out the message that being a Christian isn’t about ethnicity or observing the laws, but simply trusting and obeying Jesus. Nothing else is required!

Jesus sanctifies us and makes us more like Him day by day, and He certainly doesn't need our perfection to achieve anything, especially our salvation! In our weakness, He is strong! Though we may battle with finding our worth in many things, including good works or self-righteousness, God lovingly and patiently reminds us that Jesus alone is the source of our hope and salvation. The Lord wants us to acknowledge our burdens, ask for the Holy Spirit’s help, and bring it back to the feet of Jesus. When you find yourself carrying a weight that has already been lifted, remember that God has given us grace and freedom through Jesus. Keep following Him, and extend that grace and freedom to yourself today.

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• What did this scripture show you about God’s character?
• What did this scripture show you about man’s character?
• How can you apply this scripture to your life today?
• What unnecessary weight have you been carrying? Acknowledge your struggle, ask for help, and give it to Jesus today.
  

Family Devo: Acts 15

By: Cody Smith

Today, let's explore Acts chapter 15 and discover God's message to us. This chapter tells the story of a disagreement that arose among the early church leaders about what was necessary for salvation. Let's dive in.

In Acts 15, we see that some church leaders believed that Gentiles (non-Jewish people) needed to follow Jewish customs in order to be saved. But Paul and Barnabas disagreed, saying that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. They argued their case, and after much discussion, the church leaders agreed with them. They decided that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ and nothing else.

The main message of Acts 15 is that salvation is a free gift from God. We don't have to earn it by following a set of rules or customs. All we need to do is have faith in Jesus Christ and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we can be saved and have eternal life.

So, what can we do with this message? We can accept Jesus as our Savior and thank God for His free gift of salvation. We don't have to try to earn our way into Heaven or follow a set of rules to be saved. All we need to do is put our faith in Jesus and accept His gift of salvation. We can also share this message with others, telling them that salvation is a free gift from God and inviting them to accept Jesus as their Savior, too.

• Prayer: Lord, help us remember that salvation is a free gift from You, and it's available to anyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ. Help us accept Your gift with grateful hearts and share Your love with others. Amen.