The Daily Fountain Devotional Monday, October 24, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Monday, October 24, 2022
Monday, October 24, 2022 (St. James the Brother of the Lord's Day)
TOPIC: LEADERSHIP BY STRATEGIC INFLUENCE
TEXT: Acts 15: 12-29
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. 22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Monday, October 24, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
James the brother of Christ was one of the leaders of the Jerusalem Church in the early apostolic age. In today's passage, after an argument in response to whether Gentile Christians in Antioch needed to circumcise to be saved, James played a prominent role - providing strategic influence (though he wasn't the presiding officer at that meeting). James was the last-named figure to speak after Peter. He delivered what is called 'decision speech' in a wise, cool and collected manner. His opinion so greatly influenced the council's decision that it was eventually adopted as their ruling. He suggested among the other things that circumcision was not necessary for salvation but that the new converts should abstain from being polluted by idols and sexual immorality (w. 19-24).
The Apostles including James came together to settle issues on Church doctrines that could divide the Church. Many people today abuse positions handed to them, by way of exerting unnecessary rigidity, while others lord it over their subjects as if all powers belonged to them. However, we have observed that by tactics of wisdom as well as calm and sound words of enlightenment, greater number of people can be easily influenced for good. When you are in a meeting and arguments capable of creating grudges and hindering the move of God arise, what usually is your role? Would you not rather be a mediator of a soft-landing, even though no particular office is attached to you, or would you be an agent to sponsor anarchy?
Thought: The best form of leadership is leadership by influence.