When Jesus prayed, He called God "Abba," the name a Hebrew child would use when speaking to a loving and trustworthy father. He invites us to approach God with the same confidence, praying directly to the Father, through the Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Jesus warns against "people-pleasing" - the rewards there fade quickly. It is not having your name written on a plaque that matters; it is having your name written in God's Book of Life that brings everlasting joy!

Acts 15:36-41. Paul and Barnabas, after having been partners for a lengthy time, have a sharp disagreement over staffing with Barnabas wanting to take John Mark with them and Paul not wanting to. They have such a strong disagreement they part company.

Colossians 4:10 we see the relationship of Barnabas and John Mark, that John Mark is the cousin of Barnabas.

Barnabas heads out one direction and Paul another. Barnabas takes John Mark with him and sails for Cyprus. Paul takes Silas with him and heads to Syria and Cilicia.

Take note of what has happened and has not happened. The mission has not suffered - both are going back to church groups they had established, going back to the believers they had led to Christ months ago. What has happened is a relationship has floundered.

However, we see in Scripture a real indication of God's mercy and grace - as they are later reconciled. Taking a look at Colossians 4:10 written later in Paul's life, we see in this verse that Paul is also sharing a greeting from John Mark - showing us that they are once again working together. They are united in their love for the Lord. And in Paul's final years, John Mark becomes one of Paul's closest associates.

We, too, are to keep out hearts open to Christ and open to reconciliation with one another.

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Can we really love those who hate and oppress us? Yes, but only if our human will is governed by the Spirit of God.

"Turn the other cheek," "Go the extra mile" -- these are words intended not for the public at large, but for followers of Jesus. They are words that are life-giving, and that impart life to others as well!

Acts 15: This chapter deals with Entrance Requirements for entering the Kingdom of God.

Acts 15:1 tells us what some people are saying in order to be saved: you had to be circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses.

THEN and NOW:

• Proclaim God's Goodness - As we continue on with the next verses we read that Paul and Barnabas dispute what these people are saying. So they head to Jerusalem to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. As they travel to Jerusalem they shared how the Gentiles had been converted to faith and this news made all the believers very glad. Paul and Barnabas keep proclaiming God's goodness to encourage other believers, even in the light of the upcoming meeting/debate in Jerusalem.
• Address False Teaching - wrestle for truth and search the scriptures to make sure what we hear is in sync with what the Bible says, and that we are not taking what the Bible says and adding to it or subtracting from it or taking one verse out of context. Acts 15:4-5 they arrive in Jerusalem and share all the Lord was accomplishing. But the Pharisees stand up and say that the Gentiles must be circumcised and were to be required to keep the law of Moses. Then the apostles and elders met to consider the question and search the scriptures.
• Gospel of Grace Alone - Acts 15:6-11 Peter addresses the gathering reminding them how the Gentiles had believed in Jesus and had been given the Holy Spirit, too. Then Peter tells them that Jew and Gentile alike are saved ONLY through the grace of Jesus. Laws don't save - they help show us how to live in response to God's incredible love.
• Unity of the Body - Acts 15:12-21 we read about the assembly becoming silent as they listen to the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles. Then James, Jesus half-brother, tells how God intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles as well and quotes from Amos "…and even all the Gentiles who bear my name…" and he goes on to encourage Jewish believers not to make it difficult for Gentiles who are turning to God. Meaning let's not add additions to the Gospel of Grace. James goes on saying let's encourage them to not offend Jewish believers and thus to abstain from food offered to idols and from sexual immorality, meat from abused animals and blood. He was teaching both Jew and Gentile to have respect for one another and not drive each other away from the faith.
• Letter + Leaders Acts 15:22-32 - They sent out letters of encouragement to the other churches.
• Spirit-Guided Living - Acts 15:35 Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch where they and others taught and preached the word of the Lord. Flesh vs Spirit - in Galatians 5:19-26 we see the encouragement we need to walk in the Spirit. We are saved by grace and no longer live by the flesh but by the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We are saved by Grace and empowered to be who God has made us, living for Him alone, transformed by the Holy Spirit.

This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:

Acts chapter 15-16.

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God says: "Fear not"; the devil whispers: "Fear everything." Rather than try to face the "fiery darts" of the enemy in our own power, we should raise the shield of faith God has given us!

Ephesians 6:16

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Jesus always told the truth; in fact, He said He was The Truth. His command to tell the truth is an attack on hypocrisy, and a defense of honesty!