Paul's Lasting Word

Scripture Verse that Caught My Attention Today: Galatians 2:14 “But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Observation: I would like to know how Cephas’ responded to Paul. Scripture is silent on the matter.

Application: When I was growing up, my parents—yes, both of them—used to watch a couple of soap-operas after lunch (this was after Dad retired). Usually it was, as I recall, “The Young and the Restless” and “Days of our Lives.” Sometimes, I’m embarrassed to admit, I watched them too—even though I thought they (the soap operas, not my parents) were stupid. Such drama!

Anyhow, often times toward the end of an episode we the viewers would be privy to some overview information and could see that it would only be a matter of time until so and so would figure out what was really going on and Lord only knows (along with the producer, of course) how so and so would react to such information once discovered. Often the episode would end with the suddenly-informed look on the person’s face, leaving us to wait until the next day how things actually turned out.

I’m reminded of such things when I read the passage above that details Paul’s confrontation with Cephas. We don’t learn how Cephas responds to Paul’s rightful accusations. Did he hang his head in shame? Did he try to justify himself? We don’t know. Paul got the last word—and we’re left with the lasting message.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for the lasting message that we find through Christ in Paul. You are the great justifier of all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Job 28-29 (which I didn't read today) and Galatians 1-2)