Acts 15:5; 10-11 (NASB) But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.” v. 10 Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

My son is really into buckles right now. He will buckle himself into his booster seat, and then cry for me to come help him, because he doesn’t know how to unbuckle it yet.  Whenever I go to place my two month old into her infant swing or her car seat, I have to first unbuckle the straps (that he came by and buckled earlier), and then put her in and buckle them again. He’s just creating an extra step for me.

Many of the Jews that were believers in the early days of Christianity wanted the Gentiles to follow the Jewish laws that they had always followed (including circumcision). But Peter was adamant that God had sent the Gentiles the Holy Spirit, so He had accepted them. Jew or Gentile, they were all saved the same way, through Jesus!

Like the Pharisees, we often create extra and unnecessary steps in the name of religion. Sometimes we put these buckles on ourselves, trying to make us good enough for God’s grace. Other times we attempt to buckle in others, by telling them they need to behave a certain way before they can call themselves Christian. But it’s not our job to put constraints on God’s grace. It’s our job to point out how marvelous His grace is!

-Kevi

 

To manage your subscription to the Daily Devotionals click here.