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
These verses are the heart of the story of the conversion of both Cornelius and Peter told in the 10th chapter of Acts. Much to his surprise, Peter, a faithful Jew and disciple of Jesus, stands in the house of Cornelius, a Roman soldier and Gentile. When he arrived, Peter admitted that it was unlawful for him to associate with Cornelius; yet God had directed him to come. "Now may I ask why you sent for me?" (v. 29) Cornelius and his household want to hear the Word. And as Peter hears their request, we can almost see first confusion, then amazement, and, finally, understanding wash over his face. I suspect that he knew a moment of panic and cleared his throat. "I...Uh, I...," he stammered. Then the words came tumbling out: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." No partiality! Anyone acceptable to God!
A door has swung open that will never be closed. God has said "Yes," where we would say "No." God has said "all" where we would say "some."
Prayer
We are grateful, O God, that your desire to save is more expansive than we can imagine. Expand our hearts to embrace those excluded again and again from the community of faith. Amen.