June 21
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CONCERNS ABOUT GENTILE CONVERTS
A poem by ILMA
While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men began to teach
“Unless you are circumcised as required by law of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, and went to Jerusalem to the council
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were both welcomed by the whole church.
All the apostles including the elders were eager to hear from Paul and Barnabas
They reported everything God had done through them and all the miracles
Some believers from the sect of the Pharisees insisted that Gentile converts obey
They required them to follow the law of Moses to be circumcised.
The apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue of circumcision
After a long discussion, Peter reminded them that the Gentiles converted
He said the God knows people’s hearts and that they were given the Holy Spirit
Peter posed this question “Why are you now challenging God by burdening them?”
Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul what God had done to the Gentiles
James stood up and reminded them of the prophet’s vision on the rest of humanity
“And so my judgement is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles converts”
They decided to send a letter to the Gentile believers to remind them of God’s laws.
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MEMORY VERSE
We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. – Acts 15:19
Read: Acts 15
So many laws of Moses were stipulated by the Jewish leaders that enslaved them. They are so strict that it was difficult for many new believers to actually follow them. The apostles had the Holy Spirit in them so that they see how these laws especially the circumcision might make it difficult for the Gentiles to follow through their conversion.
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REFLECTION
• What laws have you been strictly adhering to that hinders you from doing things out of love instead of just following rules?
• Why are the Pharisees so legalistic and making it hard for new believers?
Tag Archives: circumcision
SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION Poem Devotional
October 27
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When you came to Christ, you were circumcised, but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision -the cutting away of your sinful nature.
Colossians 2:11(NLT)
SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you came to Christ, you were given a new life
The sinful nature was cut away so you can live in the light
All forms of darkness have been removed and transformed
You were pulled out of bondage and a new person was formed.
You need not go back and forth to your old ways
God’s spirit will equip you and guide you each day
Remember to never look back but always press on
Keep your eyes on Jesus and you will be transformed.
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In the old testament, Abraham made a covenant with God in Genesis 17. God required Abraham, his descendants and all the male among his household to be circumcised as a mark of the covenant between him and the family. When Christ died, all these changed. In 1 Corinthians 7:17-19, we are all called to continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed us when God first called us. For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it and the man who was uncircumcised should not be circumcised now. Spiritual circumcision means that Christ cut away your sinful nature the minute you committed to him.
PRAYER
Thank you Lord for transforming me when I believed in you.
REFLECTION
What has God cut away in your old life the minute you were saved?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com