Council decision
Day 509, Friday, Jan. 2
Acts 15:22-35
The council comes to a decision that is a compromise between full adherence to Jewish law and complete rejection of it. To add credibility to the letter the council drafts, it is sent to Antioch carried by Paul and Barnabas and also some members from the Jerusalem church.
The letter disavows those who taught that circumcision was required. “We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds with what they said.”
It advises the new believers to abstain from sexual immorality and to obey some parts of the dietary law: “You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.”
This passage is significant in considering what elements of the Old Testament law still apply, even though it is not comprehensive.
It is notable that despite what this letter says that Paul in particular is never very rigid in demanding obervance of the dietary laws. Even Peter, in his vision in chapter 10, indicated that at least some of the dietary laws were no longer in effect. (The letter does not mention any distinction between clean and unclean animals.)
-Rev. Mark Fleming
Friday meditation
Psalms 53:1-6
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.
God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on God. But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them.
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Prayer focus
Show us, God, what following you law means.