Acts 16:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Paul[a] came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A
disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a
believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of
by the brothers[b] at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul
wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of
the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a
Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they
delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the
apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches
were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
I find this passage a bit
confusing in that they circumcised Timothy although they were carrying a letter
that said hey need not do so. Do we
sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that we need to do something to prove
our salvation is real? I think it
happens more often than we would want to think.
Yet, we should be set apart from others, we should abstain from certain
behaviors because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We should go to church and other gatherings
of Christians in order to be strengthened by one another. That one on one contact is so important and
that is why Paul, Silas, Barnabus, John (Mark), and Timothy traveled to spread
the Gospel. However, when we begin to
worship the fellowship rather than fellowshipping to worship, we have a
problem. Or if you believe you must be
there in order to be saved, you have missed the point.
They had Timothy circumcised
not to prove his salvation but rather to prove his rights as a Jew. The Jews would not take Timothy and his
ministry seriously and would not have let him speak in the synagogue unless he
was like them. It was not for his
salvation but rather for the spreading of the Gospel. So that brings it to us. Where are we ministering to others? Are we welcome in that setting? If not, how could we be more welcomed? How can we welcome others into our
lives? Prior to a missionary going into
a foreign country they need to learn the culture and language of that
country. If they do not understand the
people, the people won’t understand them.
As you seek Him today may you
find that our salvation is through the precious blood of Jesus Christ not by
our actions. Our actions, however,
should describe to the world the love, grace and forgiveness of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Seeking Him with all my
heart,
Sheila
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