This Day in History: 0000-08-26

August 26 – Galatians 2:1-9

Then fourteen years later I went back to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas; and Titus came along, too. I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing. And they supported me…
And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching… Instead, they say that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as He had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews. For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.
In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews.

Do you ever get discouraged in your work for God? Do you ever start to question whether you’ve heard His leading rightly, and start to worry you’re running the race for nothing? I certainly do! In fact, it’s a little too easy for the enemy to get in my head and start to make me question God’s call on my life.

For some reason I find it incredibly reassuring to know the apostle Paul had the same kinds of insecurities. Just a few sentences before this passage Paul had reminded the Galatian church it was not his own words he preached to them, but that it was through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he spoke and wrote. And yet, we find him wondering if He had somehow gotten it wrong.

Friends, God did not leave us to face this world alone. Just as Paul sought council and encouragement from his fellow apostles when he was feeling uncertain, we too need to have a trusted group of godly advisers to whom we can turn. This group should not be made up of just anyone. They should, without exception be believers who are following God wholeheartedly. Their lives should bear much fruit for His Kingdom and His glory.

God’s will for us will be confirmed in groups like this. Of course, when we feel the Spirit leading us, our first check should always be Scripture. Nothing in our lives should ever contradict that. But when we’re seeking God’s will, what Scripture supports will then be backed up by godly council from trusted brothers and sisters in Christ, our godly husbands or wives, our pastors, and our Christian parents and children.

Let’s be willing to listen to godly council. Let’s seek it out. Especially during times of questioning. Friends, we are part of the family of God. He has not left us to fend for ourselves. Let’s thank God for making us a part of His family, and learn to fully utilize our place in it.