Good Monday morning to you all! We had such an amazing weekend with the celebration of my husband's grandparents 60th wedding anniversary and then our daughter being baptized yesterday. Our good friend and pastor, Dick VanDyke was able to baptize her. There was also 20 others that professed their confession of faith. God is so good!

Acts 15:11 "But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."

As we continue in our study of Acts, in chapter 15, Paul and Barnabas debate with some men who are trying to teach that unless you are circumcised, you cannot be saved. Peter replies that God has made the choice that His forgiveness is for everyone.

"Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear." (vs 10) "Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood." (vs. 19-20)

After reading this, it made me think about how many things we conjure up in our minds as stipulations for salvation. Do you look at someone's outside and assume they are or aren't Christians, are there specific traditions that you strap to the Gospel (what to wear to church, what songs to sing, the scheduling of the worship service, how youth are to "behave", what translation of the Bible to read from, etc.) or anything else that may distract others from knowing that salvation only comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ? I know that I have fallen to stipulations many times.

Show others who Jesus is through your actions. Show them what a relationship with Christ looks like and let God do the rest. The Holy Spirit does amazing work, we just need to get out of the way.

Have a great day

Christie