30The four men left Jerusalem and went to Antioch. Then they called the church members together and gave them the letter. 31When the letter was read, everyone was pleased and greatly encouraged. 32Judas and Silas were prophets, and they spoke a long time, encouraging and helping the Lord's followers.
33The men from Jerusalem stayed on in Antioch for a while. And when they left to return to the ones who had sent them, the followers wished them well. 34-35But Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached about the Lord.
"What...no more meat offered to idols?"
That's what we'd hear today if we delivered a similar letter. We can't even get people to leave their coffee outside the sanctuary...if we even have a "sanctuary". That's because the god we worship in our culture bows at the altar of individual rights. Outside of a minority of churches there is no comprehension of personal sacrifice for the good of the whole.
Remember, that's what the letter was asking..."we'd like you to give up a few things for the sake of unity".
But, in Antioch, everyone was pleased and greatly encouraged. Their attitude was simple: "you want me to become a vegetarian? No problem!"
The Purpose Driven Life begins with the phrase "it's not about you". Next time God...or a fellow believer...asks us to make a sacrifice, this might be a good axiom to remember. Remember, it's all about the Body of Christ. As I think about it, the more we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the more likely we will hear more of these requests. That's how it works.
Live boldly out there today...
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