February 28, 2024
Read Leviticus 15, Psalm 59, Galatians 2
Technology is great, except for when it’s not. We live in a world that boasts about being connected more than ever before. We can communicate with someone halfway around the world in a matter of seconds. One of the side effects of online communications is that too much of it and not enough personal contact will create certain behaviors and build character traits in us that might not be all that good. One of these side effects is a lack of desire for personal confrontation. It is east to hide behind a screen and argue a point but if we are void any relationship it usually ends bad.
In Galatians 2 Paul talks about his personal testimony of coming to Christ with the church in Galatia but then he discusses a confrontation that he had with Peter about his behavior. “When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong” v. 11. He goes on to explain that Peter was being hypocritical with his beliefs and his actions depending on who he was around. “Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray” vv. 12-13. It had gotten to the point where even Barnabas had been misled by Peter’s actions.
Some people are more outgoing than others, but I don’t know anyone who likes confrontation. Paul knew what he had to do to set things right. Think about a time when someone came to you and properly tried to correct you. Maybe it was your beliefs or maybe it was your behavior. We might not like the time of correction, but we all needed it. I thank God for the people in my life who have taken me out to lunch or pulled me aside to have a conversation with me. Another question we could ask is, “Are we approachable or a teachable person?” Do we put off an air of arrogance or come across so confident that we are beyond a teachable person.
What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.
DId God Really Say... 