Hello everyone and happy Tuesday! We got to read through Acts 11 together on Sunday as we saw Peter reflect on his vision from God and visit with Cornelius. The miraculous encounters that Cornelius and Peter both had led to the revelation that God‘s salvation is for all people. It is then that we see a change of heart in the Jews, and they thank God and glorify Him for for granting repentance to the gentiles. How would that look for us? We very humanly tend to place ourselves above others, maybe thinking that they don’t deserve the same repentance or love that God has shown us. What a massive shift in perspective it would be if we learned to recognize the absolute blessing that it is for people different than us to receive salvation and the gift of eternity with our Heavenly Father?! What a reason to celebrate! We should be acting as Barnabas and Saul (Paul) confidently spreading the gospel to all who will listen and rejoicing as the amount of believers multiplies. On top of that, they proceed to send aid to the believers of Judea, as it is revealed they are in the midst of famine. Sending foreign aid is a politically hot topic these days. God does call us to love others as Jesus did. I pray that my heart aligns with the will of the Lord and that He will use my funds according to where He wants to send them.
Some practical takeaways:
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Be Open to God’s Leading – like Peter, we should be willing to step outside our comfort zones when God challenges our preconceived notions. Who in your life might God be calling you to reach out to?
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Celebrate God’s Work in Others – the Jewish believers initially resisted but later rejoiced when they saw God working among the Gentiles. Instead of being skeptical, we should celebrate when God moves in unexpected ways.
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Be Generous and Support the Needy – the church in Antioch responded to the needs of others by sending help. We should actively look for ways to meet the needs of people around us, whether financially, emotionally or spiritually.