We Ought to (I Ought to) Please God!
How far do we go to be all things to all people? Paul the Apostle was a man who desperately wanted to do God's will. He was so determined to do what He felt called to do that even the threat of chains, imprisonment, and death would not deter him. Upon his return to Jerusalem after his many storied missionary travels, he reported the leader in the church in Jerusalem all that God had done through his life in the Gentile world.
The Jewish followers of Christ, and leaders of the Church in Jerusalem were glad, but they wanted to make sure that everyone was happy and nobody was threatened by Paul's ministry. Hoping to appease everyone's stance, they asked Paul to go ahead and be involved in a purification ceremony (with four other jews) and then everyone would see that Paul was a devout Law abider which would please everyone...?
Well Paul, wanting to submit to Jerusalem's view and counsel and cause no rift in the church in Jerusalem went ahead to the task. Then while on his way and at the temple, some people notice Paul, having seen him, with a Gentile earlier and they assume (man how much trouble comes when we assume things) that he has brought a Gentile into the court of worship!
Needless to say, not everyone was pleased and it may very well be that the church in Jerusalem which still was deeply entrenched in a Jewish faith system and probably still not completely free in Christ, learned a great lesson! We have got to please only God - to try and appease all men is foolish - someone will always be rubbed the wrong way no matter what is "done".
The lesson? For me, it is to be careful of trying to please everyone - i never will! I must be careful to make sure that my actions, decisions, life choices, minsitry choices (best i can discern) please God!
Free me also God from the politicking of moving in a way or leading in a way that rubs nobody! Help me Father to be like Paul in submission, but help those around me to recognize that I will be the one who takes the fall - like Paul did. (as it relates to the leadership of the church)
Created over 2 years ago
