Devotional

Understanding Galatians 2: A Role to Play

By Lydia Tapia

Ready 

“And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.) Instead, they saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews. For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.” Galatians 2:6-8

Set 

The diagnosis was devastating. I’d miss one year of competition. Any dream I had of making an impact on my team was crushed.

Despite losing my ability to compete, I realized my responsibility to make an impact on the team remained the same. I had a new responsibility to encourage my teammates and support them. It wasn’t about my athletic performance anymore but about making an impact through this new responsibility!

The church at Galatia was being infiltrated by those trying to add works (like circumcision) to salvation. Paul writes the letter of Galatians to refute this idea that salvation is based on works or that God favors those of a particular ethnic background. If we’ve put our faith in Jesus, then regardless of our works or ethnic background, we’ve been given a Kingdom responsibility. Paul was to preach Jesus to the Gentiles and Peter to the Jews. If you’ve put your faith in Jesus, then He is living in you and you’ve been entrusted with a specific Kingdom responsibility. We’re to live out our responsibility and empower others to live out theirs, all for the one purpose of sharing the Good News of Jesus.

Go 
  1. What responsibility has God called you to?
  2. Are you trusting your works to save you instead of the work of Christ?
  3. How can you empower others to live out their responsibility?
Workout 

Ephesians 2

Overtime 

“God thank You for the free gift of salvation. Help me to live out my Kingdom responsibility and empower others to do the same."

Group 
Daily Impact Play
Bible Reference: 
Galatians 2:6-8
Ephesians 2