PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Acts 15:1-11
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“He purified their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:9)
Is faith the reason we are forgiven and set free from sin (purified)?
Faith is the way we receive God’s grace, it is not the cause of grace.
If I receive an amazing gift by hand, it is not my hand that gifted me.
If I receive refreshing water by mouth, my mouth is not what refreshes me.
Grace is all around us, we are immersed (baptized) in it.
God embraces us, like the father embraces his wayward son.
God’s favour and kindness is not something we have to fight for.
I already have it… but have I embraced it?
Peter says that for Gentiles and Jews, all we have to do is accept grace.
With open hands accept it, with open mouth drink it in.
No rituals to perform, no rules to fulfill before it is enacted.
No proving to God we deserve it, for He has already decided we are.
God has already accepted you… will you accept His acceptance?
God is already pouring love, forgiveness and hope love on you… will you drink it in?
PRAYER
Lord, so many of us are immersed in your love and forgiveness, yet live as if we don’t have it. May I feel your grace today, so that I may drink it in, and take hold of it by faith.
“He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.” I’m member of a church that taught me that the church had a responsibility for something called the ‘keys of the kingdom” – which includes faithful preaching of the gospel, discipline and faithful practice of the sacraments” – but really the mark of someone who believes is someone who believes in Jesus – whose hearts have been purified by faith – not be religious practice. The church ends up discriminating wrongly – rather let Jesus – let faith lead the way – encourage people to find Jesus and to seek the scriptures without being discriminated by what they believe or practice – in a sense to execute the keys of the kingdom we must be diligent to help them to find Jesus – by our actions and by helping them find Jesus in the scriptures – blessing them with the opportunity to participate in declarations of faith: baptism and Holy Communion. We should not take a Pope role but rather a Father/Mother role. Help me Lord Jesus to be that kind of person!