That All May Know

Acts 11:1-18

English Standard Version (ESV)

11 Now the apostles and the brothers^[a] who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. ² So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party^[b] criticized him, saying, ³ “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” ⁴ But Peter began and explained it to them in order: ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. ⁶ Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. ⁷ And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ ¹⁰ This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. ¹¹ And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. ¹² And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. ¹³ And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; ¹⁴ he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ ¹⁵ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. ¹⁶ And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” ¹⁸ When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11%3A1+-+18&version=ESV)

How often are we too guilty of the judgment of others, just like these Christian Jews?  We think we are maybe just a little more deserving of the Gospel of Christ.  We believe that some people just are not “fit” to be part of the Kingdom.  But God has a different vantage point, He know the heart. 

Last night I went to see McFarland, USA, yes two movies in three days!  This movie depicted the perception of a race that was so far from the truth.  A family moves into a town and finds themselves the minority.  There was much apprehension at first because the culture of the community was so far removed from their culture.  Yet, they learned to appreciate it, embrace it, and become long time residents of the town, including its culture.  This was not a Christian movie but it depicts to us that we should not (pardon the old cliché) “judge a book by its cover”.  We as Christians need to reach out to all cultures, races, and lifestyles because Christ died that all may know Him.  Yes, this takes energy, time, patience, tolerance, and persistence but that is what we are called to do. 

Peter had a vision as did Cornelius and they followed the commands given to them.  Oh that we too, would read these words and know our own mission.  Seek Him, know Him, and share Him with all people.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila