Acts 15:12-29
And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.14 Simeon [Simon] has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
16 “‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things18 known from of old.’19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
If you’ve ever been to a Chick Fil A you know the phrase: “My pleasure!” And to their credit it seems they have trained their employees so well that it doesn’t sound canned or forced. I think they sincerely mean it! And I’ve noticed the phrase has caught on. On a recent resort visit all the wait staff and housekeeping, and baggage handlers used the phrase – even though we were in Mexico! It was not da nada, or gracias. It was, “My pleasure.” They, too seemed sincere. It was refreshing to hear people express pleasure in response to our thank you.
I think of that when James speaks to the church in Jerusalem. His terminology is not heavy-handed, or dictatorial. When he is finished Luke tells us that, “it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose their next course of action – which was to provide guidance for the new Christians. Even their guidance was gracious and tended toward a minimalist approach. They were to “abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.“
Perhaps we should think differently about the influence of Chick-Fil-A, and consider more the influence of God and his people for good. Truett Cathy no doubt got the idea for a gracious and kind demeanor, and expressing it by training his employees to say, “My pleasure,” from his Christian faith. He is known as a devoted follower of Jesus. His Christian faith shaped his personal behaviors, and the values he sought to instill in his employees.
An attitude of gracious solicitude grows from the love of God and a willingness to
“have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross. – Philippians 2:5-8
I’m not certain Jesus said it was his pleasure to go to the cross for us. But his attitude of willing sacrifice and servanthood should go a long way in the everyday encounters we have with others. God’s people do best when they are gracious and kind. It may involve saying, “My pleasure.” It might even mean opening the way for someone to connect more deeply with God and his church.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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