Acts 15:10

So now, why are you putting God to the test, by placing a yoke on the disciples’ neck which neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear.

Peter is rebuking some believers from the Pharisee party who said you have to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses in order to be saved.

This is what we turn religion into isn’t it?

An unbearable yoke around people’s neck.

Heck, we probably do it to ourselves as much or more than we do it to others. Hold ourselves to an impossible standard of perfection then berate ourselves for falling short of it.

How many would line up for that church if we were painfully forthright with the message we tell ourselves?

Hey, you should join our community because we place demands and expectations upon you which you’ll never be able to fulfill (and no one ever has), then we make you feel shame for ever being born since you can’t keep up!

Woo hoo! Sign me up!!

Or we could go with door #2–verse 11:

Rather, we believe it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus that we shall be saved, like them (the Gentiles).

Amen!

If only we could tangibly realize how much God wants to do for us which we cannot do ourselves. If we’d but admit our weakness and let God do what God wants to do with us. Such sweet liberation this is.