Acts - Until Everyone KnowsSample

Acts 10

These were new and exciting times for the Early Church, but with growth in God often comes the increased awareness of our own shortcomings – in this case, self-imposed limitations on who should be eligible to hear the Gospel. The Jewish-born Christians in the Early Church assumed that the Good News was only for Jews, as they had been brought up to believe. But God was about to change that. Through Peter’s dramatic vision and the obedience of a God-fearing Roman, the disciples’ prejudice was about to be radically challenged, and the response was awesome.

We can all be guilty of expecting Christians to behave or look a certain way or fit a certain mold. But this risks many people being missed or excluded and is totally against what Jesus intended or wants – everyone needs to be saved and Jesus died for all (Romans 3:23).

The Church should be filled with people of all ages and backgrounds – praise God that Gentiles (me and you) are included! The all-encompassing Message of the Gospel – where the God of the Universe sees and knows every individual and lovingly, sacrificially pursues us (Luke 15:7) – is exactly what our society desperately needs to hear.

But this account in Acts also reveals God's gentle Teacher-Heart in helping the disciples see their blind spots and gives them opportunities to love people better. Isn’t that so true of your walk with Jesus as well?

Lord, You want everyone to be saved, so please help me to see with Your Eyes of Love and Compassion today. I choose to put that Love into practice. Amen.

Dan Tram