SUNDAY - 12TH APRIL, 2026
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola & Oreoluwa ADEJUMO
THE CENTRE SHOULD STILL HOLD
Acts 15:22, KJV
"Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren..."
In Nigeria, there's an organization called Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON). It endorses every product that is rolled out as fit for public consumption or use. Having tested it in its labs, it knows whether the said product is fake or healthy for use. That's the exact thing the Jerusalem council or the congregation of disciples (apostles) in Jerusalem are to the course of Christ - especially on doctrine.
When there arose debates on whether Gentiles (who are now believers) should be circumcised according to Moses and abide by his law, the church in Antioch had to send Paul and Barnabas to the Jerusalem church to go and learn for them which to practice.
Though Paul and Barnabas have tried to persuade them on what is right to practice yet because of its futility because they were being confused, they still needed to find out the truth and hold unto that which is truth.
Acts 15:1-2, KJV
"1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question."
We thank God for the centre that still holds. Unlike some denominations today, it's from the centre they lay heavy burdens hard to bear on people. They strip them of their hard earned money as they endorsed the transactional gospel. However, the apostles beg to differ. Look at their response.
Acts 15:19-20, KJV
"19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood."
James means don't burden Gentiles believers with the full Jewish law. They are already accepted by grace. To abstain from pollution of idols means to abstain from idol worship and foods sacrificed to idols. That's because idolatry contradicts loyalty to God. To abstain from fornication is necessary because God requests for our moral transformation. At that time, fornication was common in the Gentile culture. From things strangled means meat from animals not properly drained of blood. From blood means not drinking blood directly or eating it in meat.
They were only commanded to keep all these to keep them distinct from their idolatry world and the prevalent acts in their day. They didn't bind a heavy religious burden on them. Never!
Let's ask ourselves. Is this how our group of elders in the local church does? Is this how our leaders at the headquarters write and send letters to save people far away from the centre from being made slaves of - believing another gospel and being subjugated by unrighteous men? Or is it those at the centre who are trusted with the preservation of doctrine that perverts it for filthy lucre?
We need to check ourselves. As you do, may God wash you clean and set you right. May you stand as a watchman indeed. May you fight for the cause of Christ's sheep which He redeemed with His blood.
PRAYER: Lord, let our watchdogs stand as one indeed.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 5:1-7:15, Luke 15:1-32, Psalm 81:1-16, Proverbs 13:1
Powered by Morning Wings Ministries. Click TRANSLATE on the blog & read in your own language. Enquire or counsel through +234 80 77 63 85 50 or +234 8137 04 68 12 II morningwingministry@gmail.com & Blog @ http://morningwingsministry.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment