Scripture: Acts 11:1-18 Click here for the reading
Observation: Peter gives his report to the council in Jerusalem about his encounter with Cornelius. This, of course, comes after the council asks why he was eating with Gentiles in their homes. Peter asks an important question in following God and paying attention to what God is doing; " And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”
Application: far too often we see people standing in the way of what God is up to in the world. We would rather think that God wants what we want rather than listening to the movement of the Spirit. his became important as the church shaped and formed and reformed over the years. Yet we still divide ourselves. Peter's report was convincing and the hearts and minds of those leaders in Jerusalem were opened to accepting gentiles as brothers and sisters in Christ. Are we this open when we are given a report of faith? When someone shares their story of God's spirit moving to accept people who are different from us?
In my recent conversation with God, the Lord reminded me of this important discipline.....I offered this back to a friend of mine in a more comedic way by saying 'Yeah, the Lord reminded me things are going pretty good right now, so He asked me not to mess it up."
That is a gift of the Holy Spirit, to recognize that God is the one doing and leading and inspiring. My default is often to create wonderful creative plans and THEN check to see if God is okay with them. Peter was wise to articulate not standing int he way of what God is doing but he also got to participate in it.
Lord, blow your spirit into our lives so that we might get ourselves out of the way and simply follow your lead.
Application: far too often we see people standing in the way of what God is up to in the world. We would rather think that God wants what we want rather than listening to the movement of the Spirit. his became important as the church shaped and formed and reformed over the years. Yet we still divide ourselves. Peter's report was convincing and the hearts and minds of those leaders in Jerusalem were opened to accepting gentiles as brothers and sisters in Christ. Are we this open when we are given a report of faith? When someone shares their story of God's spirit moving to accept people who are different from us?
In my recent conversation with God, the Lord reminded me of this important discipline.....I offered this back to a friend of mine in a more comedic way by saying 'Yeah, the Lord reminded me things are going pretty good right now, so He asked me not to mess it up."
That is a gift of the Holy Spirit, to recognize that God is the one doing and leading and inspiring. My default is often to create wonderful creative plans and THEN check to see if God is okay with them. Peter was wise to articulate not standing int he way of what God is doing but he also got to participate in it.
Lord, blow your spirit into our lives so that we might get ourselves out of the way and simply follow your lead.
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