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. 

What About Him?

The arrival of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost changed everything for this band of Christ followers. They were all together in one place and were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in our lives is a game-changer. It was for them as well.

Peter had to make some major adjustments to his beliefs and his practices to be on the same page with God. He went so far as to argue his point with God after God commanded Peter to "kill and eat". Then God gave him a sign and Peter got the message. But, then he had to convince the other disciples.

What it boiled down to was God wanted everyone to get to know Jesus but Peter thought only the Jews should know and be saved. "When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.” (Acts 11:18)

The Disciple's task just became a whole lot bigger. Now they had to share the Gospel message with Jew and Gentiles. The same can be said for us. We are to share the Gospel message with everyone so that all have the opportunity to know and be saved. It doesn't matter the nationality, the social status, educational background or who they know. The only thing that matters is that God loves them and we should also.

When pointing at our neighbor and asking, "What about Him?"  Yup, him too.  What about my boss who doesn't even like me? Yes, but maybe someone else could tell him or her about God's love. The point is, we all have the right to know Jesus. And one of us needs to get started.

Acts 11:1-18

Step Outside the Box

Acts 11:18 (NIV) 
 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." 

This is an interesting text. Peter had to be convinced by God to share the Good News of Jesus with more than just the Jewish people.  Jesus wanted even the Gentiles to know him. Surely Peter witnessed Jesus talking to the Gentiles.  Why was he so hesitant to do the same?

This passage points to the humanness of Peter. He planned on sharing his treasure with those who were like him. He could not believe God would want everyone, even those Gentiles, to come to believe.

Let's face it; we have a lot in common with Peter.  It is much easier to share our faith with people who already possess similar backgrounds. It is simpler and less threatening to tell friends and neighbors, who already understand we go to church, about Jesus.  But there is no way we could share our faith with a person we are unfamiliar with, someone who is different.

It seems we make things too difficult. First we must love someone.  This means we enter their lives on some level, build a relationship, and become a friend. I must get over myself.  Why am I afraid to step outside this comfort zone I constructed?  There is no adventure or excitement here?  The way to experience life is to share it with someone we don't yet know.

"Men always talk about the most important things to perfect strangers. In the perfect stranger we perceive man himself: the image of a God is not disguised by resemblances to an uncle or doubts of wisdom of a mustache."  G. K. Chesteron

Acts 11:1-18