Tom in Washington

Faith is love. Religion is control. God wants to love us and be loved by us. He does not want to control us, or he wouldn’t have given us free will. How much greater is our relationship with God when we choose it, not do it from a fear of punishment.

We humans love to be acceptable, especially to the “in” crowd. Peter and Barnabas eat with Gentiles until the “in” crowd people show up, then separate themselves away from the Gentiles. This happens today all the time. But in this example, this separation is important for Paul to confront Peter about because it means something more than sitting with your friends until more popular people show up. Here, it meant discrimination against the Gentiles because they weren’t following the Law (they were not circumcised). At least that’s what the popular kids complained about (in reality they were just prejudiced against the Gentiles). Paul reminded Peter that the Law didn’t matter anymore, and that Peter already accepted this, so it was hypocritical of Peter to distance himself. As Paul said, it is by grace that Christians are saved, Jews and Gentiles alike, not the Law. If the Law still applied, then Christ died in vain. it was courageous for Paul (the former sinful Pharisee) to call out Peter (the beloved apostle of Jesus) in front of everyone. It could have divided the fledgling Church at the time. But Peter realized Paul was correct and he shouldn’t have abandoned the Gentiles. Today, it’s important to remember this lesson and not stand away from Jesus because the popular kids show up.

"7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish...." (Philippians 3:7-8) I strayed from God despite his many goads. I was the mule braying, I was the prodigal son, I was the “wretch” in Amazing Grace. I married an atheist who scoffed at God, and soon I was scoffing along with her. We boasted of our material successes and our truthfulness. Then Jesus broke us up; she wanted another lover and I pushed her over the coffee table landing on her with my hands on her throat. I spent two weeks in jail on a suicide watch, freezing hours on end in my little suicide jacket. I was so despondent. I prayed to God, wondering whether he would reply. He did. Of course he did. I prayed for warmth; he warmed me. I prayed for his blessing; he happily complied. I realized how, all these years, how much he wanted me to come back to him. I lost my wife, my house, my possessions. But what I gained was a renewed relationship with God. Out of my demise, he brought me new wealth — an everlasting relationship with God.

"7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish...." (Philippians 3:7-8) I strayed from God despite his many goads. I was the mule braying, I was the prodigal son, I was the “wretch” in Amazing Grace. I married an atheist who scoffed at God, and soon I was scoffing along with her. We boasted of our material successes and our truthfulness. Then Jesus broke us up; she wanted another lover and I pushed her over the coffee table landing on her with my hands on her throat. I spent two weeks in jail on a suicide watch, freezing hours on end in my little suicide jacket. I was so despondent. I prayed to God, wondering whether he would reply. He did. Of course he did. I prayed for warmth; he warmed me. I prayed for his blessing; he happily complied. I realized how, all these years, how much he wanted me to come back to him. I lost my wife, my house, my possessions. But what I gained was a renewed relationship with God. Out of my demise, he brought me new wealth — an everlasting relationship with God.

I don’t know when God has sent me to someone else but I am sure it has happened; I probably didn’t realize it. God sends us, and if we listen, we can impact many people not realizing it. I am sure Ananias didn’t realize he would end up in the Bible, the most famous book in the world. But he did. Just by listening to God’s voice.

I strayed from God despite his many goads. I was the mule braying, I was the prodigal son, I was the “wretch” in Amazing Grace. I married an atheist who scoffed at God, and soon I was scoffing along with her. We boasted of our material successes and our truthfulness. Then Jesus broke us up; she wanted another lover and I pushed her over the coffee table landing on her with my hands on her throat. I spent two weeks in jail on a suicide watch, freezing hours on end in my little suicide jacket. I was so despondent. I prayed to God, wondering whether he would reply. He did. Of course he did. I prayed for warmth; he warmed me. I prayed for his blessing; he happily complied. I realized how, all these years, how much he wanted me to come back to him. I lost my wife, my house, my possessions. But what I gained was a renewed relationship with God. Out of my demise, he brought me new wealth — an everlasting relationship with God.