Acts 10:34-48
English
Standard Version (ESV)
34 So
Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no
partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does
what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he
sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord
of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all
Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went
about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was
with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in
the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him
on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him
to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been
chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the
dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to
testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the
dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who
believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still saying these
things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And
the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed,
because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For
they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter
declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these
people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And
he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked
him to remain for some days.
I have been challenged over the past few days
regarding my belief. My husband and I
went to the movies the other night and I was amazed. When I left the theater, all that I could
think was, “WOW”. Often times we have a
tendency to get caught in this life of doing things for ourselves and we forget
about the world of hurting people around us.
I can become so obsessed with my own needs and my own desires that I
forget that there are people who do not know or who do not believe in the power
of the Holy Spirit. There are people who
do not believe in the power of the cross of Christ. Sometimes that someone may be myself.
We
can say that we believe but faith without action in dead, according to James
2:14. In Hebrews 11:6 we find that
without faith, it is impossible to please God. So, if we have faith, others
should be seeing it, but are they?
As
I read this passage today, the movie we saw came back to me once again. It was not because of the question of race
but more a question of lifestyle. So
often, the Christian community may shy away from those whom we think just might
not “fit in” to the Christian lifestyle.
We may think they will never come to know the Lord because they could
never change. Or we may think of the
ones who have hurt us and we really could care less if they come to the Lord or
not. Now, that is WRONG! According to Jesus in Matthew 5:44, we are to
love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us! So, what are we doing about that?
As
you seek Him today, Jesus stretched out His arms for you, whether you are a Jew
or a Gentile. Jesus stretched out His
arms for you, whether you are rich or poor.
Jesus stretched out His arms for you, IF you will just BELIEVE, in the
power of the cross of Christ, trust Jesus as your LORD and Savior. Then go out and show others the life that was
changed through the Holy Spirit.
Seeking
Him with all my heart,
Sheila
P.S.
The movie that we saw, Do You
Believe? It is now likely showing in
a theater near you. Be sure to go see
it, take a friend, and BELIEVE!
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