Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
THURSDAY, September 9 (Constance and her Companions)
Acts 15:1-11. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
Peter raises this question at the First Council of Jerusalem. The same question could be asked in every church council and convention. We spend our time and energy debating budgets and programs, rules and regulations, who is in charge and who should determine what to do and believe. When we deal not with hundreds of disciples but with millions of church members, careful planning and recognized procedures become essential—we often get so preoccupied with secondary things that they begin to seem primary to us. How we must try God’s patience! Anything in church life which stands between us and those with whom we should be sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ is a yoke upon our necks. As Peter also reminds us, “We shall be saved through the grace of Jesus Christ.”
At that first council, the apostles put aside traditional regulations to reach out to people formerly excluded from the fellowship of the faithful—to the Gentiles. Do we have enough confidence in the grace of our Lord to reach beyond our national, cultural, and social boundaries to those outside our circles? (1965)
PRAY for the Diocese of Guyana (West Indies)
Ps 50 * [59, 60] or 93, 96; Job 29:1; 31:1-23; John 11:17-29
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
A Meditation for Pentecost
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