THE SEED
“When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all…” Galatians 2:14 (NIV)
In Galatians 2:11–14, Paul confronts Peter (Cephas) for his hypocritical behaviour. Peter had previously eaten freely with Gentile believers, but when some Jewish Christians arrived, he withdrew out of fear, leading others astray; including Barnabas. Paul saw this as a betrayal of the gospel’s truth, which unites all believers regardless of background. This incident warns us of the subtle and dangerous influence of legalism and by way of deeper understanding, Hypocrisy is pretending to be something you’re not; especially acting like you’re morally good or religious, while secretly doing the opposite. And legalism is strictly following religious rules or laws, believing that obeying them can earn God’s approval or salvation, this is done often without focusing on love, grace, or the heart behind the rules. When our actions are motivated by fear of people’s opinions rather than faith in God’s truth, we compromise our witness. Legalism puts burdens where God has offered freedom. Hypocrisy undermines the grace we preach. Instead of being driven by the wind of legalism, we should instead let our lives be consistent with the gospel we profess. We should walk in truth, not fear. We should Embrace the freedom Christ gives and extend it to others without prejudice.
BIBLE READING: Galatians 2:11-14
PRAYER: Father, keep me from hypocrisy and fear of others’ opinions. Help me to live consistently with the truth of Your gospel. May my actions reflect Your grace and not man-made rules in Jesus name, Amen.
ÀGÀBÀGEBÈ ATI EWU ÒFIN
IRUGBIN NAA
“Nígbà tí mo rí i pé wọn kò hùwà ní ìbámu pẹ̀lú òtítọ́ ìhìn rere, mo sọ fún Kéfà níwájú gbogbo wọn.” Galatia 2:14 (NIV)
Nínú Gálátíà 2:11–14, Pọ́ọ̀lù dojú kọ Pétérù (Kéfà) nítorí ìwà àgàbàgebè rẹ̀. Pétérù ti jẹun pẹ̀lú àwọn Kèfèrí onígbàgbọ́ tẹ́lẹ̀, ṣùgbọ́n nígbà tí àwọn Júù Kristẹni kan dé, ó fà sẹ́yìn nítorí ìbẹ̀rù, ó sì mú àwọn mìíràn ṣìnà; títí kan Bánábà. Pọ́ọ̀lù rí èyí gẹ́gẹ́ bí iwa ọ̀dàlẹ̀ si ìhìnrere, èyí tí ó so gbogbo àwọn onígbàgbọ́ d’ọ̀kan láìka ipò wọn sí. Iṣẹlẹ yii kilo fun wa ti arekereke ati ipa ti o lewu ti ofin ati nipasẹ oye ti o jinlẹ, agabagebe n dibọn pe o jẹ nkan ti iwọ kii ṣe; paapa sise bi o ti wa ni pípé, nigbati o n ti inu ikoko nse idakeji. Ati pe ofin jẹ titẹle awọn ofin tabi awọn ofin ẹsin ni muna, gbigbagbọ pe ṣiṣeran wọn le jere itẹwọgba tabi igbala Ọlọrun, eyi ni a ṣe nigbagbogbo laisi idojukọ lori ifẹ, oore-ọfẹ, tabi ọkan ti o wa lẹhin awọn ofin. Ofin gbe awọn ẹrù si ibi ti Ọlọrun ti funni ni ominira. Àgàbàgebè ń ba oore-ọ̀fẹ́ tí à ń wàásù rẹ̀ jẹ́. Dípò kí ẹ̀fúùfù ti òfin ń darí wa, dípò kí a jẹ́ kí ìgbésí ayé wa wà ní ìbámu pẹ̀lú ìhìn rere tí a jẹ́wọ́ rẹ̀, o yẹ ki o rin ninu otitọ, kii ṣe ní ìbèrù. A gbọ́dọ̀ gba òmìnira tí Kristi ń fúnni, ká sì polongo rè fáwọn ẹlòmíràn láìsí ẹ̀tanú.
BIBELI KIKA: Gálátíà 2:11-14
ADURA: Baba, pa mi mo kuro ninu agabagebe ati iberu ero awon elomiran. Ran mi lọwọ lati gbe ni igbagbogbo pẹlu otitọ ti ihinrere Rẹ. Jẹ ki awọn iṣe mi ṣe afihan oore-ọfẹ Rẹ kii ṣe awọn ofin ti eniyan ṣe ni orukọ Jesu, Amin.