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"When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong" (Galatians 2:11).
Prior to our service this last Sunday Brooksyne was working on the music with the pianist at the front of our church. There were some beautiful flowers on the altar so I went up and examined them and then leaned forward to smell them. (Brooksyne later told me they were Asiatic lilies.) I went on through the church and greeted several people and later spoke for several minutes with a friend concerning Sunday School.
Finally I saw Lee, a big strapping man, as he walked into the foyer. Reaching toward him with a handshake he immediately asked, "What's that all over your nose?" I said "nothing", as I quickly grabbed a handkerchief from my back pocket, fearing the worst, and thoroughly wiped off my nose. It was covered with rust-colored dust that came from smelling the flower! Later several admitted they had noticed it but just didn't say anything. They probably didn't want to embarrass me.
Well, that's a little thing, but since I have a rather large nose I sure appreciate Lee speaking out. Now Brooksyne or Ester would sure have quickly caught it and told me, but no telling how many others would have politely ignored it!
Today I use this to illustrate a sometimes painful but absolutely necessary element in Biblical relationships. Now I really wasn't "confronted" but Lee called my attention to a problem and when that happens we can either examine the validity of the charge and take appropriate action or we can react and be offended by it.
Please note: Today's Biblical exposition portion is a bit longer than normal.
Today's verse records quite an encounter of confrontation. The issue spoke to the very heart of the Christian faith. The Galatian churches had been infiltrated by a false doctrine. A group known as the Judaizers asserted that salvation was a mix of faith in Christ and keeping the Jewish law.
Reading the text closely indicates that the confrontation itself was prompted by Peter's actions that reflected this doctrine. In verses 12 and 13 we read, "Before certain men came from James, he [Peter] used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray."
Notice the phrase "he (Peter) was afraid." It's terrible when your convictions are set aside for the fear of men and essentially politics! God had powerfully spoken to Peter earlier on this issue (read Acts 10) and he clearly needed Paul's rebuke. Yet consider this; Peter was one of the twelve and a member of Jesus' inner circle. He spoke for the new church on the Day of Pentecost and was the most prominent leader in the church's early years.
I wonder how he reacted to Paul's words? I wonder if he thought or even said, "How dare you speak out against me!" I wonder if he recalled an Old Testament verse I've often heard today to quench any criticism of leadership, "Touch not my anointed" (Psalm 105:15).
After all, Paul was the Johnny-come-lately. He missed all the action during Christ's earthly ministry and vehemently persecuted the early church. I wonder if it was difficult for Paul to confront Peter? What right did he have to confront a senior leader of the church?
Yet today we are all enriched by this encounter. Correct doctrine was preserved. Peter later wrote a very respectful remark about Paul, "our beloved brother", in his second Epistle (3:15). I find it interesting that his first letter was written to these same churches in the region of Galatia. This suggests that Paul's rebuke had no lasting harm on Peter's esteem among these churches.
Today, may God help us like Peter, to receive proper rebuke if necessary, whether it be walking around with an orange nose or much more weighty issues! May we also have the courage, like Paul, to stand up for our convictions and for truth and to confront when necessary!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne's note: Ester would appreciate prayer from our Daily Encouragement readers today. On Monday I took her to the cardiologist for her three-month check-up. When the pacemaker technician began to test Ester's pacemaker it was very apparent that she was in Atrial Flutter. Those of you who regularly read our Encouragements know this is an on-going issue for Ester. She had likely been in Flutter for several days since she had not felt well for some time. With the medicine she now takes it is very difficult for us to know that she is experiencing flutter - even the doctor acknowledged he could not tell without doing a thorough examination. Today she will go to the hospital with the intent of her doctor performing a Cardio Conversion (shocking her heart back into proper rhythm), but they must first rule out that she has no blood clots. If clots are ruled out the doctor will convert her heart into proper rhythm and we should be home tonight.
Wednesday, June 22,
2005
"Orange Nose"
"Orange Nose"
"When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong" (Galatians 2:11).
Prior to our service this last Sunday Brooksyne was working on the music with the pianist at the front of our church. There were some beautiful flowers on the altar so I went up and examined them and then leaned forward to smell them. (Brooksyne later told me they were Asiatic lilies.) I went on through the church and greeted several people and later spoke for several minutes with a friend concerning Sunday School.
Finally I saw Lee, a big strapping man, as he walked into the foyer. Reaching toward him with a handshake he immediately asked, "What's that all over your nose?" I said "nothing", as I quickly grabbed a handkerchief from my back pocket, fearing the worst, and thoroughly wiped off my nose. It was covered with rust-colored dust that came from smelling the flower! Later several admitted they had noticed it but just didn't say anything. They probably didn't want to embarrass me.
Well, that's a little thing, but since I have a rather large nose I sure appreciate Lee speaking out. Now Brooksyne or Ester would sure have quickly caught it and told me, but no telling how many others would have politely ignored it!
Today I use this to illustrate a sometimes painful but absolutely necessary element in Biblical relationships. Now I really wasn't "confronted" but Lee called my attention to a problem and when that happens we can either examine the validity of the charge and take appropriate action or we can react and be offended by it.
Please note: Today's Biblical exposition portion is a bit longer than normal.
Today's verse records quite an encounter of confrontation. The issue spoke to the very heart of the Christian faith. The Galatian churches had been infiltrated by a false doctrine. A group known as the Judaizers asserted that salvation was a mix of faith in Christ and keeping the Jewish law.
Reading the text closely indicates that the confrontation itself was prompted by Peter's actions that reflected this doctrine. In verses 12 and 13 we read, "Before certain men came from James, he [Peter] used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray."
Notice the phrase "he (Peter) was afraid." It's terrible when your convictions are set aside for the fear of men and essentially politics! God had powerfully spoken to Peter earlier on this issue (read Acts 10) and he clearly needed Paul's rebuke. Yet consider this; Peter was one of the twelve and a member of Jesus' inner circle. He spoke for the new church on the Day of Pentecost and was the most prominent leader in the church's early years.
I wonder how he reacted to Paul's words? I wonder if he thought or even said, "How dare you speak out against me!" I wonder if he recalled an Old Testament verse I've often heard today to quench any criticism of leadership, "Touch not my anointed" (Psalm 105:15).
After all, Paul was the Johnny-come-lately. He missed all the action during Christ's earthly ministry and vehemently persecuted the early church. I wonder if it was difficult for Paul to confront Peter? What right did he have to confront a senior leader of the church?
Yet today we are all enriched by this encounter. Correct doctrine was preserved. Peter later wrote a very respectful remark about Paul, "our beloved brother", in his second Epistle (3:15). I find it interesting that his first letter was written to these same churches in the region of Galatia. This suggests that Paul's rebuke had no lasting harm on Peter's esteem among these churches.
Today, may God help us like Peter, to receive proper rebuke if necessary, whether it be walking around with an orange nose or much more weighty issues! May we also have the courage, like Paul, to stand up for our convictions and for truth and to confront when necessary!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne's note: Ester would appreciate prayer from our Daily Encouragement readers today. On Monday I took her to the cardiologist for her three-month check-up. When the pacemaker technician began to test Ester's pacemaker it was very apparent that she was in Atrial Flutter. Those of you who regularly read our Encouragements know this is an on-going issue for Ester. She had likely been in Flutter for several days since she had not felt well for some time. With the medicine she now takes it is very difficult for us to know that she is experiencing flutter - even the doctor acknowledged he could not tell without doing a thorough examination. Today she will go to the hospital with the intent of her doctor performing a Cardio Conversion (shocking her heart back into proper rhythm), but they must first rule out that she has no blood clots. If clots are ruled out the doctor will convert her heart into proper rhythm and we should be home tonight.
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