20 May 2022
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.’
From Acts 15:22-31, NRSV
In today’s reading, we hear of the first of the letters sent to the new church communities. The community in Jerusalem wanted to inform the communities in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia about the decision they had made regarding observance of the Jewish Law. They selected two delegates – Judas and Silas – to accompany Paul and Barnabas and to give witness to the contents of the letter. The message made clear that the decision that had been reached was under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We are told that when the letter was delivered to the community in Antioch, they were “delighted” with the encouragement it gave them.
- Why do you think the Jerusalem community decided to send delegates with Paul and Barnabas?
- How can we discern when judgments are made under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
If there are important decisions facing you, pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If you are not in this position, you may like to pray for those who are.
