Acts 10:34-43 (NRSV)
Read Acts 10:34-43 on biblegateway.com
Verse 34Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, Verse 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. Verse 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ-he is Lord of all. Verse 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: Verse 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Verse 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; Verse 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, Verse 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. Verse 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. Verse 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
Devotion
In my work as an interim pastor I have the challenge and usually the joy of discovering the values and vision of a congregation as they seek to call a new pastor. Currently the values of being welcoming, inclusive and justice-seeking top the list.
We know there was a big contest in the early church between Paul and Peter. Paul argued for inclusiveness and welcome while Peter argued against it (Galatians 2). But Paul won the argument. We wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t.
Wow! Maybe there’s hope for the church today! Think about how we sometimes draw boundaries that prevent welcome, inclusion, justice and even another’s ministry. Paul would have none of this. When the dust settled Peter began this speech by saying, “Now I truly understand that God shows no partiality … ”
As hard as it is to see it, let’s believe it.
Prayer
O God, help us to trust. Amen.