Acts; Turning Over the Apple Cart

Aug. 22

Read: Acts 10

Acts;

Turning Over the Apple Cart

“So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34)

The Lord has a knack for divinely disrupting our tidy “systems” and challenging our conceptions of who he is and what he is doing. Because he loves us - he will never let us put him into a “box”. I love reading Acts 10 and watching as the Lord turns Peter’s world upside down… dismantling his preconceived notions time and time again.

It begins when the Lord through a vision redefines the notion of what Peter eats and whom Peter eats with. This is bigger than simply the food laws - since Jesus had already declared all foods clean and able to be eaten:

“‘Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?’ (Thus he declared all foods clean.)” - Jesus (Mark 7:18)

No, this vision was building on the words of Christ and expanding this reality for Peter. At the heart of this vision is the truth that God is working above and beyond what we expect or imagine. Peter was unaware of what God had made clean and “uncommon”. Peter actually found himself calling “unclean and common” what God had transformed. (cf. v.15)

Meanwhile, God was working in the life of Cornelius - and sent him a message through a vision. In obedience, he sent his men out to find Peter. When they arrive - prompted by the Spirit - Peter goes with them to the home of Cornelius and is met by not only Cornelius but his extended family and friends. In Peter’s old paradigm, it was totally unacceptable for him. When he arrives, Peter sees how God is at work … in was far beyond what he expected and in people that he did not anticipate! I believe Peter had an epiphany - and abrupt moment of realization - that his expectations fro who God was calling to himself and working in the midst of was far beyond what he had originally expected. He declares to Cornelius:

“Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (v.34)

God does not “play favorites”. He is not “more partial” to one human, tribe, tongue, or nation over the other… he shows “no partiality”. It doesn’t matter what earthly nation you belong to - anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him. This is faithful loyalty and obedience to God Most High. This is the sort of “faith that is credited as righteousness”. (cf. Gen. 15:6, Heb. 11) The scriptures teach us about God’s impartiality in judgement time and time again, and they teach us to avoid favoritism in the same way. Look at this theme mapped out in the scriptures:

“You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s.” - Deut. 1:17

“Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also…” - Rom. 3:29

“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe…” - Deut. 10:17

“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” - James 2:1

“But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” - James 2:9

“Partiality in judging is not good.” - Prov. 24:23

God does not play favorites as far as who is allowed to come to him, fear him, and act obediently according to his instruction. Peter was finding out that God’s work did not stop with Jews only… in fact it was never only a matter of being Jewish, but rather ALWAYS a matter of fearing the Lord and with faithful loyalty following him. Peter’s eyes were opened. I think Peter was surprised at the way God was working. Think about all those miracles that Peter had seen Jesus do and that he himself had experienced… yet what catches him off-guard is that God is bringing these Gentiles to himself! As far as Peter is concerned, this is a fantastic miracle: That God is calling people from EVERY tribe, tongue, and nation to himself. They are receiving the Holy Spirit and are being welcomed in.

Praise the Lord for this truth: God has called you and I to himself from out of whatever nation / tribe / tongue / past-life / previous mistakes / family unit / etc. - He loved us and called us in his son Jesus Christ. May we have divine appointments and experiences in our own lives like Peter. May the Lord speak to us and then may we obey and trust like Cornelius. May we call those friends and family around us - as Cornelius did - together to to hear and celebrate the message of Jesus. And - May we be surprised by how wide and deep the Father’s love is that he is calling all manner of people to himself. Lord, give us as your people our own “Peter moments” when we are caught off-guard by just how good, kind, loving, merciful, and forgiving you are… open our hearts and minds to just how big this work is that you are doing. Thank you that you are not a God of “favorites” but are a God who gives favor to those who are in Christ Jesus … leaving it wide open for anyone to come, respond in faith, follow you, believe, and be saved! Amen. Love you guys. - JDP