All They Asked
Paul says it was all Peter, James and John asked of him.
Galatians 2:10 caught my eye in a completely new way when I read it last week. This little gem was tucked away and I almost missed it in the midst of Paul’s defense. We’ll get there in just a moment…
In his letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul responds to the question of his apostolic authority. Effectively, he asserts his calling by reminding the people first that he was appointed by God:
I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
— Galatians 1:12 NIV
He goes on to cite his acceptance by the other apostles as further evidence of his appointment to this office:
On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
— Galatians 2:7 NIV
In the end, Peter, James and John “agreed that [Paul and Barnabas] should go to the Gentiles.” (Galatians 2:9) They added but one caveat to this commission:
All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
— Galatians 2:10 NIV
To continue to remember the poor.
One thing.
That’s it.
Just one.
Must’ve been important.
Remember the poor. Paul was “eager” to do so. As Christ’s apostles to an unbelieving world, we readily acknowledge our calling to bear witness to His glory and share the Good News.
Are we as quick to remember — and live out — the only other thing that was asked of Paul in his missionary work?
Wow, Kirsten. I’m leading Beth Moore’s study of James in my neighborhood, and this was a passage from last week (James and the Jerusalem Council). Interesting that God keeps bringing this verse across my path, especially since I’m heading to Guatemala in a few days. I wonder what God has planned?
Thanks for the convicting thought!
Wow, Kirsten. I’m leading Beth Moore’s study of James in my neighborhood, and this was a passage from last week (James and the Jerusalem Council). Interesting that God keeps bringing this verse across my path, especially since I’m heading to Guatemala in a few days. I wonder what God has planned?
Thanks for the convicting thought!
Wow, Kirsten. I’m leading Beth Moore’s study of James in my neighborhood, and this was a passage from last week (James and the Jerusalem Council). Interesting that God keeps bringing this verse across my path, especially since I’m heading to Guatemala in a few days. I wonder what God has planned?
Thanks for the convicting thought!
Can’t wait to hear what God reveals to you – and does through you – on this trip!
Kirsten,
Thank you for sharing. This is a great post. Don’t you love it when we can read a passage many times, but then, something stands out to us and we glean a new truth or see things in a new light. 😉 “Living and active for sure!”
God bless you! Hester, 😉
Kirsten,
Thank you for sharing. This is a great post. Don’t you love it when we can read a passage many times, but then, something stands out to us and we glean a new truth or see things in a new light. 😉 “Living and active for sure!”
God bless you! Hester, 😉
Pretty simple thing you would think–but we don’t even do that very well. We give them our cast off clothing, the broken items we no longer want to bother to fix, the food in our cupboard that we didn’t really want anyhow. We have forgotten that Jesus life was all about sacrifice. And our lives are all about comfort. If we really believe that Jesus takes our treatment of others personally we would be giving more and giving the best instead of our leftovers. When was the last time I gave until it hurt–like Jesus did? Open my eyes Lord! Give through me.
Pretty simple thing you would think–but we don’t even do that very well. We give them our cast off clothing, the broken items we no longer want to bother to fix, the food in our cupboard that we didn’t really want anyhow. We have forgotten that Jesus life was all about sacrifice. And our lives are all about comfort. If we really believe that Jesus takes our treatment of others personally we would be giving more and giving the best instead of our leftovers. When was the last time I gave until it hurt–like Jesus did? Open my eyes Lord! Give through me.
Pretty simple thing you would think–but we don’t even do that very well. We give them our cast off clothing, the broken items we no longer want to bother to fix, the food in our cupboard that we didn’t really want anyhow. We have forgotten that Jesus life was all about sacrifice. And our lives are all about comfort. If we really believe that Jesus takes our treatment of others personally we would be giving more and giving the best instead of our leftovers. When was the last time I gave until it hurt–like Jesus did? Open my eyes Lord! Give through me.