Peter Explains his Actions

 PRAYER PRACTICE

Prayer Journal – To begin your daily worship today, grab a pen and paper and write out a prayer to God. Not sure what to write? Try using ACTS to frame your prayer. Begin with adoration for who God is. Then move on to confession – being real about where you have fallen short in the last day or two. Give thanks to God for all that He gives (including forgiveness for the sin you just confessed!). And then finish with supplication – with your prayer requests to God. When you are done, tuck this away somewhere (so you can read it later and see how God has answered your prayers) and then move into hearing from God through His Word.

DAILY READING

Acts 11:1-18

DEVOTION / REFLECTION 

Jesus for All

by Judy Webb

This scripture passage is an important lesson for us. In fact, it is so important that when we read Acts 10 we see that the story actually begins there, with Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Regiment. Obviously, not a Jew but still an angel of God appeared to him and instructed him to summon Peter to meet with him.

Meanwhile, Peter had a vision and a voice told him to, "Get up, Peter, Kill and eat." The lesson continues with the voice teaching him, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened 3 times. Then, the spirit told Peter that three men were looking for him, further encouraging Peter to go with them. This story pretty much repeats itself in chapter 11, where Peter explains to the believers back in Jerusalem that the message of Jesus is not for Jews only, but for all people all of the time.

The fact this story was told and retold in both chapters of Acts, leads one to grasp its importance. Peter had to convince the others that the Gentiles also needed to hear the Good News.  

Fast forward to today: Jesus is not this hush-hush entity to keep private, but one we are to share with everyone, everywhere. Sometimes it seems that Jesus is a well-kept secret, one we fear to share because we won't be understood, or welcomed. We may even have loved ones who don't want us to talk about Jesus to them. Our faith is off limits in any conversation. 

Consider Christian teachers in the public school system who cannot refer to Jesus or their faith in Him to their students. No prayer, no scripture quoting or Bible reading. But their actions will speak volumes. Smiling faces and welcoming demeanors will do so much to impact a young person’s life. 

Jesus reached me, not by people preaching to me, but by a handful of women who demonstrated love by their actions. No words were necessary.

Jesus, remind me every day that how I choose to interact with people during the course of my day is important. It could have Kingdom consequences.