Day 5

Lisa Sheffler, author

Happy Friday! We’ve finished another chapter of Galatians. What is God revealing to you through his Word? Spend some time with him today, asking him to guide you to apply what you’ve learned.

Reflect

Take another look at Galatians 2:11–21

What issue did Paul have with Peter, and what arguments did he use to oppose Peter’s actions? How does this fit into the larger argument he’s been making about the sufficiency of Christ?

What’s your own personal takeaway from what we studied this week?

Connect

Jesus died to bring lost sinners home. His sacrifice for our sins makes us right with God and brings us into his family. Every person is loved enough that Jesus died for them, but also sinful enough that he needed to. How we treat one another should reflect this reality.

Peter allowed himself to be pressured into the old, Jewish posture of rejecting Gentile “sinners” unless they became Jews. Paul couldn’t bear to see the barriers that the gospel was breaking down rebuilt, so he called him out for it. Paul wanted to see all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, background, or class gathered around a table together. God’s big table holds space for us all.

In our modern world, we still struggle with how to come together with our racial, ethnic and class differences. But we must try. In a country that’s divided into so many factions, the church can show a different way. We can help break down barriers and uphold the dignity and worth of all people, as we strive to see them from God’s perspective, not just our own.

Every person longs to be known and be loved. Deep down, we all long for a place at the table. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what other people think about you. You still want to be welcomed, accepted, and loved.

God offers all of that at his table. Your place is set and there is a spot reserved for you. But there are always some open seats. Who can you invite to join you? So many people, right here in our community are struggling with loneliness, anxiety, and addiction. They need to experience the peace that comes from a right relationship with God and others, and the freedom that comes from life in the Spirit.

Each of us can be a faithful presence who prays, listens, cares and walks alongside. We can share the love of Christ with our words and actions, and in doing so, pull out a chair at God’s table and invite someone to take a seat next to us.

Respond

Take some time in prayer and ask God two questions:

• What do you want me to take away from what I’ve studied this week? What do you want me to remember?
• What do you want me to do with that learning? What is the one, next, right step that you want me to take?

Who can you invite to join you at a table? Ask the Spirit to give you an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with someone over coffee or a meal. Pray to learn from their perspective and that they would experience Christ in you.

Easter is coming up! Who could you invite to join you for Easter services, either in person or online? How could you have a meaningful conversation about the true meaning of Easter? 

Coming up next week…

Get ready. We’re diving in deep next week! We’ll begin walking through the heart of Paul’s argument that will lead us to a better understanding of the gospel and how we as Christians should view the Mosaic law.