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
A new restaurant opened nearby where I once lived. A sign, “Please seat yourself,” greeted those who entered. When I took a menu from the pile that sat on a stand next to the sign, a manager stopped me saying, “You can’t eat here.” Confused by the dissonance between the sign and the manager, I inquired why. The manager said nothing but pointed me to the door. When I refused to leave without a conversation, the manager sighed deeply out of exasperation. It seems not all their servers had showed up for work. “Could you use a hand?” I asked. They thought for a minute and reached for an apron and a bin. I was asked to clear dirty dishes from dirty tables that also needed to be cleaned. Later, the manager stopped me. “When you’re done, we’ll be glad to serve you.” We were in this together.
Prayer
I am in awe of your expansive grace, O God. Widen my vision and deepen my heart to make room for the places and people you call me to serve. Amen.
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