Short devotion: Turning Point - Acts 10:28

 

Acts 10:28 And Peter said to them, “You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.” (NIV)

 It was a turning point in Peter’s ministry. He thought that his mission for Christ was to be narrowly focused on his own people, but God showed him dramatically in a vision that the Gospel Peter was preaching was for everyone. It was a remarkable event in Peter’s life, so when folks approached him on behalf of an outsider – Cornelius – the Big Fisherman knew that God was calling him to bring Christ’s message of salvation and grace to those who were least like him. As Peter confessed at that time, “God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.”

 In our current divided and fragmented society, it’s very easy to think of others who have different opinions, ideas, and lifestyles as being subhuman, wicked, and unworthy of our prayers, compassion, or care. It’s far easier to put people in biased boxes so that we can ignore them completely. Giving them labels allows us discount their situations and disregard their grievances. We can even force them to live in ghettoes or lock them up in cages in order to get rid of the annoyance of having to deal with their problems. However, in doing that we set aside the Gospel of grace and disrespect what God has shown – that we should not call anyone profane or unclean.

 On Wednesday nights, our wee church is actively attempting to reach a turning point with our BridgeBuilders program. We want to learn from others what damage has been done to them by racism and prejudice, biased systems and manipulation. The discussions we are having are not easy to hear, but the only way to bridge the gaps that we have created or allowed is to actively listen to what people of color, creed, or orientation have to say. By doing this, we hope to reach a point where we will call no one profane or unclean. We will see them as the Lord does: children of God in need of love and grace.

 Point to ponder: Who am I prejudiced against? How does God see them?

 Prayer: Lord Jesus, being a Christian is never easy because You challenge us on so many different levels. We justify our biased ways and validate our judgment of others. Forgive us for being morally profane and spiritually unclean. Heal us of our blindness and open our hearts to embrace all of God’s children. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

 John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to learn more about our Bridgebuilders program, please visit our website for more details at www.erinpres.org.

 Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called “A New Earth.” If you would like to view a larger version, just click this link: A New Earth.

Guilt and Grace - Acts 10

Acts 10:43 Peter concluded, “All the prophets testify about Jesus that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

            Guilt is something that a lot of us struggle with on a regular basis. As we go through life, we carry a lot of baggage, some of which include regrets from the past. This might be something wrong in our teenage years, an old family conflict, a foolish and embarrassing choice, or even a mistake that affected our relationships or careers. Whatever the case, our guilt is usually about something that remains unresolved and unforgiven.

            From its very beginnings, the message of Christianity has always included the gift of forgiveness, which Jesus offers to us in His name. He can do this because God allows Christ to claim us as His own. This means we can be both pardoned and restored to God at the same time. All of the baggage that we carry from past mistakes can be personally removed when we trust Jesus. We also don’t have to go through religious acts of penance or make major sacrifices to appease God. We only have to embrace Christ and rely on Him to keep His word.

            Perhaps there is still something in your life that constantly casts a shadow over you. Maybe there is an unhealed memory that haunts you or a deep regret that weighs you down emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Please know that you can bring those things to Christ in prayer, express to Him your sorrow, and ask Him to forgive you in His name. As soon as you do this, God will forgive you, Christ will release you, and the Holy Spirit will help you to start again.

Point to ponder

What is my greatest regret? Am I willing to let Jesus forgive and heal me of this burden?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You know all that we carry in our hearts and play over again in our minds. You are aware of the burdens of guilt that we carry and the sources of sorrow in our lives. Please help us to quietly come to You to ask for mercy and grace. Hear us now as we humbly pray in Your Holy Name. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send John an email to Traqair@aol.com. You can also read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s digital glass drawings called ‘Time to Pray.’ If you would like to view a larger version, click this link: Pray.