Today's Passage - Galatians 2:6-10

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Galatians 2:6-10     As for those who were held in high esteem-whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism-they added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised...    Each person has a different task entrusted to them from God and has different things they receive from God. This is why we need to respect what each person receives from God - their mission and anointing. God entrusted to Peter the task of preaching the gospel to the Jews. God established him as the pillar of the church in Jerusalem. And it is for this purpose that Peter spent his efforts in life. God entrusted to Paul the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. God sent him on three missionary journeys to become the apostle to the Gentiles. For this purpose also Paul spent his efforts in life, because he knows God wants him to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised.    To respect one another is a very important lesson. Paul and the leaders in Jerusalem performed a right hand of fellowship, which is a ceremony to accept one another. Even though they have different ministry style, yet they did not criticize and judge one another. Rather, they respected one another. The church today also needs to learn this lesson. Even though we have different leadings, but as long as we have no differences in the foundational truths, then we should respect one other. Those who emphasize baptism by sprinkling and those who emphasize baptism by immersion need to have mutual respect for each other. Some people lift their hands to praise God and clap their hands to declare the victory. Some people don't raise their hands to worship and don't clap their hands. Some people sing joyfully and dance before God and some people wait quietly on God. Some people speak in tongues and some people don't speak in tongues. There are different things people receive from the Lord and we need to respect one another and not criticize one another.    Criticism and judging in the church come from people's flesh and cannot build up the body of Christ. Criticism and judging can even more destroy the body of Christ. In reality, the parts of the body are each different. The hand can't say I'm not the feet. The feet also can't say I don't want the hand. No part of the body is complete and we need each other. When we are joined together, the body of Christ can be complete and be able to grow. Let us not let the tasks God entrusted to us make us despise the tasks God gave to other people. We need to learn to respect one another, accept one another, and be joined together so that the body of Christ can grow until we reach maturity.                                                                  Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, I thank you because your will is that through the different things people receive from you, the body of Christ can be built up and grow. May you grant me a heart to accept others, to partner with one another, and to be connected with one another, so that your will may be fulfilled.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!