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
What love, to be given full forgiveness of sin! That's what Peter declares in his sermon to those Gentiles gathered in Caesarea, "those other people." It's timely for us having just celebrated the birth of Jesus and ready now to enter Epiphany. We need again to hear the old, old story as Peter tells of Jesus ministry and for it his suffering and death and his miraculous resurrection—for all people! Peter's words open our eyes to see again that this good news was not only for us but for people of all races and cultures.
Because our basic sin is to be turned in on self, we tend to stick with our own kind, excluding or avoiding those of other cultures. So natural, isn't it, to think of ourselves as the better race instead of getting to know "those people" who are different from us? Today Peter’s sermon gives us a jolt, reminding us again that God’s love in Jesus is for all!
Prayer
Loving God, open our eyes to love all people with unconditional love that only comes from you. Amen.