Daily Devotional for Tuesday, December 10

The Leaders Agreed with Paul

"But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised;' Galatians 2:3.

Coming from the world of public education, I notice there is a certain bondteachers form that isunlike any other workingrelationship. If youget agroup of teachers together in aroom, it is only amatter of minutes before they are already discussing the triumphs or woes of the education system. There is a comradery among educators based on shared experiences and similar struggles. It is arare occurrence when the policies and procedures passed down from administrators align with the needs and desires of the classroom teachers; however, when that does happen, morale skyrockets, and everyone is working toward the same goal: eliminating the need to fight each other and accomplishing so much more with aunified goal.

Paul brought Titus with him to Jerusalem when he went to counsel with the other apostles and those who served with Jesus specifically because Titus was a saved Gentile. Paul received the gospel directly from God, so he knew that what he was teaching was accurate and that he was sent to minister unto the Gentiles. Still, he was told in a revelation to go up to Jerusalem to confer with the leaders. One of the matters they discussed was whether believers were justified by grace or the Law and if Gentile believers needed to be circumcised and accept the Jewish cultural standards. If Paul's gospel had been lacking this portion, Titus would have been required to be circumcised. Since Titus was not "compelled to be circumcised" by the leaders in Jerusalem, Paul used this as proof that the gospel message of grace through faith was the true message of Christ. Even though the affirmation from the leaders in Jerusalem was not required for Paul to continue with his ministry, it presented a picture of unity that eliminated the need to choose sides. There was definitive proof that those who preached circumcision were polluting the true

gospel message.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

May we accomplish the goal of sharing the gospel by being unified in Spirit.

Ashley Ridings