Differences
Sunday 25th November 2018
'God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.' Acts 10:28 NIV
God was about to show the world that the Gospel message wasn't just for Jews, but for everyone. And to do it, he used Peter, one of the most religiously-biased people you could find. He showed Peter a vision of a sheet being lowered from Heaven, containing all kinds of animals that the Jews were forbidden to eat, then commanded him to eat. Peter protested, saying 'I have never eaten anything impure or unclean' (Acts 10:14 NIV). God replied, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean' (Acts 10:15 NIV). Soon after this, Peter was invited to Cornelius' house to preach. When he arrived, he said to Cornelius, 'You are well aware that it against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean' (Acts 10:28 NIV).
So what can we learn from this today? (1) God's message of hope and salvation is for everyone, no matter who they are. (2) To spread the Gospel message, we might have to work with people who are different from us, or maybe even those we'd rather avoid. But instead of focusing on our differences, we need to remember what makes us similar - our shared love for God and his Word.
So what now? Think of someone you don't really get on with. Now write a list of your similarities. Next time you see them, try starting a conversation with them about something you're both interested in.
Sunday 25th November 2018
'God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.' Acts 10:28 NIV
God was about to show the world that the Gospel message wasn't just for Jews, but for everyone. And to do it, he used Peter, one of the most religiously-biased people you could find. He showed Peter a vision of a sheet being lowered from Heaven, containing all kinds of animals that the Jews were forbidden to eat, then commanded him to eat. Peter protested, saying 'I have never eaten anything impure or unclean' (Acts 10:14 NIV). God replied, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean' (Acts 10:15 NIV). Soon after this, Peter was invited to Cornelius' house to preach. When he arrived, he said to Cornelius, 'You are well aware that it against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean' (Acts 10:28 NIV).
So what can we learn from this today? (1) God's message of hope and salvation is for everyone, no matter who they are. (2) To spread the Gospel message, we might have to work with people who are different from us, or maybe even those we'd rather avoid. But instead of focusing on our differences, we need to remember what makes us similar - our shared love for God and his Word.
So what now? Think of someone you don't really get on with. Now write a list of your similarities. Next time you see them, try starting a conversation with them about something you're both interested in.
