Thursday 19 May 2022

Today is Thursday the 19th of May in the fifth week of Easter.

Kalley sings, ‘Rebuilding My Ruins’. We will hear in today’s reading of ruins being rebuilt…could this mean anything for your life at the moment?
There's a rock that is higher than I
A mending to bridge the divide
A hope that's beyond my plain sight
Reclaiming what You said is mine
You're rebuilding my ruins one by one, one by one
You are faithful to finish what You start, good as done
Come hell or high waters, You won't stop 'til it's won
You're rebuilding my ruins one by one, one by one
I am standing on this cornerstone
Your love is becoming my home
I trust You have all that I need
As You're building a city in me
You're rebuilding my ruins one by one, one by one
You are faithful to finish what You start, good as done
Come hell or high waters, You won't stop 'til it's won
You're rebuilding my ruins one by one, one by one
One by one
I surrender, I'll watch You rise and fight
My rebuilder, You're making all things right
My defender, coming with my breakthrough
Now forever, victory belongs to You
You're rebuilding my ruins one by one, one by one
You are faithful to finish what You start, good as done
Come hell or high waters, You won't stop 'til it's won ('Til it's won)
You're rebuilding my ruins one by one, one by one
One by one
Come hell or high waters, You won't stop 'til it's won
You're rebuilding my ruins one by one, one by one


Today’s reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 15:7-21
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, ‘My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.’
The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, ‘My brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first looked favourably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written,
“After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen;
from its ruins I will rebuild it,
and I will set it up,
so that all other peoples may seek the Lord—
even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called.
Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things known from long ago.”
Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood. For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.’

Was there a specific time when you heard the same good news that Peter shared?
Who brought this news to you? Let this moment come to life in your memory now…
Peter continues to say that God, who knows our hearts, gives the Holy Spirit to all believers, cleansing hearts and making no distinction between them.
How do you experience the presence of the Holy Spirit with you?

As you hear the reading again, listen to the conversation as Paul and Barnabas, share what they have seen, and of what the prophets foretold…
‘All other peoples may seek the Lord,’ they declare at the Council.
Perhaps this freedom to belong is something we now take for granted, but how did hearing about this inclusive decision make you feel as you heard it today?
Talk with the Lord about this now.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.